Concept of Divinity in Jainism

Author(s): P Ajay Kothari
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

Page 20

Meaning of Divinity
Divinity, according to Encyclopaedia of Religion, refers to ‘Deity; god and goddesses'.14
According to Lexicon Webster Dictionary, divinity means the state of being Divine; Divineness; Deity; God-hood; Divine elements; Divine nature; celestial beings; Deity; inspiring character.15
Divinity, according to World Book Dictionary, means "A Divine being; a god or goddess". 16
According to Webster's New 20th Century Dictionary, divinity means, "The quality or condition of being Divine, a Divine being; a god; Deity, a Divine power or quality; supreme virtue or excellence”.17
According to Oxford English Dictionary divinity means “The character or quality of being Divine; Divineness, God-hood; Divine nature; Deity; Godhead. A Divine being; a god; a Deity; the Supreme Being, an object of adoration, an adorable being, Divine Quality, Virtue or Power; God-Likeness, Divineness”.18 According to Monier Monier William, divinity means 'State of being Divine, and in Sanskrit it is 'Devatva’.19 It has the root word 'Div' which means 'to shine’.20 The word 'Div' takes the form of Dyu' which means heaven.21 The heavenly being or celestial being is known by the term 'Deva' in Sanskrit. In Lithuanian also the word 'Deva' is found. The universal Indo European word for Deva was 'divos' which appears in Latin as 'Deivas' and later it became 'Deus'. In old Scandinavian the word 'tivar' means 'gods’:22
According to Webster's Dictionary; God is "a Creator Ruler of the universe, Eternal, Infinite, All Powerful and All Knowing".23 It is generally believed that God is a supreme being, who is Transcendent, omniscient, Omnipotent, Omnipresent Benefactor, Governor, Creator, Destroyer and Sustainer of the universe.
THE CONCEPT OF DIVINITY IN JAINISM