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are Parameshtis. The jivas, tardy in their process of the soul, are different from them"." 124 The Parameshti is the holy, supreme
personality. There are five parameshtis125 viz., Arihanta (Omniscient with body), Siddha (Omniscient without body), Acharya (preceptor-leader), Upadhyaya (preacher) and sadhu (sage). The Pancha Parameshtis are supreme divinities. 126 Arihanta and Siddha are omnipotent, omniscient, are supreme divine while acharya upadhyaya and sadhu are ascetic sages who are themselves striving to reach the end of their journey in Siddhahood or Supreme Divinity. The three padas viz., acharya, upadhyaya and sadhu are the individual persons having certain ethical excellences and spiritual attainment. Among the Holy Pentad (Panchaparameshtis), the last three viz., spiritual leader, scriptural preacher and mendicant sage have been accorded an extraordinary position of holiness and religious authority.
To express the faith and adore the ideal of ultimate transcendent holiness, as conceived in Jainism, is to recite and meditate on the famous and sacred formula of five fold obeisance "Pancha-namaskara-stuti."27 The five fold obeisance 128 - “namo arihantanam/namo siddhanam/ namo ayariyanam/namo uvajjhayanam/ namo loe savva sahunam."
Prof. Padmanabh S. Jaini translates the aforesaid obei
129
sance.
I bow before the worthy ones (Arhats)
the Jina;
I bow before the perfected beings (Siddhas), those who have attained Moksha;
I bow before the (mendicant) leaders (acharya) of the Jain order;
I bow before the (mendicant) preceptors (upadhyaya)
I bow before all (the Jain) mendicants (sadhu) in the world.
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