Chicago Prashnottar

Author(s): Vijayanandsuri
Publisher: Atmanand Jain Pustak Pracharak Mandal

Page 36

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pound words are cows' horns, buffaloes' horns, Raja's son, or hare's horns, man's horns, barren woman's son. The thing denoted by a simple word necessarily exists while the thing or things denoted by a compound word or expression may or may not exist. Ishvara or God is a simple word; hence it necessarily exists. *
As regards the view of the scriptures, the Jain Shastras hold that their Arhantas who have become Siddhas are; Gods.
The Buddhists consider Buddha to be their God. The followers of Nyaya and Vaisheshik doctrine consider Shiva to be God and the Vedas consider the manifested creation to be the God.
NOTE.-Just as pot etc., the word "Ishvara" is a simple word, having meaning, derivation and existence. If it is meaningless it can have no derivation, nor can it be correct just as the words Dith &c. The word "Ishvara" is not like these words; it has therefore meaning. If it has no derivation it cannot have any meaning though it is correct just as Dith &c. If a compound word has a derivation, it cannot have a pure meaning just as the words Khari-Vishana (horns of an ass).