Concept of Divinity in Jainism

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

Page 27

Jainism
The word divinity has a root word ‘Div', in Sanskrit which refers 'to shine'.89 According to Abhidhana Rajendra Kosha, the Prakrit word 'Div' refers to 'swarge' which means heavenly. The Prakrit word 'Divva', from the word 'Div', means in Sanskrit. “Swargagata vastu vishaye', which means “heaven related subjects'.91 The word Deva is derived from root 'div' and means a deity, a god; Indra, god surpassing all other gods, etc. 92 According to Abhidhana Rajendra Kosha, Devas, characteristically, are lustrous, shining (Divyanti swaroopena iti devah).93 Devas according to Jain scriptures, 94 are of five types:
1. Bhavya-dravya Deva (potential god or divine), 2. NaraDeva (Emperor or king of kings), 3. Dharma-Deva (Religious teacher), 4. Devadhi-Deva (god of gods), and 5. Bhava-Deva (celestial present state of existence).
Bhavya dravya deva are the souls having potentiality of being divine in future. Naradeva are rulers over kings, like Chakravarti, Vasudeva, Prativasudeva and Baldeva.9 Dharma deva are religious leaders viz., Acharya (preceptor), Upadhyaya (preacher) and Sadhu (sage). Devadhi-devas are the super divines viz., Arhat (omniscient embodied) and Siddha (omniscient). Bhava devas who have Deva-Paryaya (manifested Deva) are celestial beings enjoying some super occult power, not generally possessed by the human beings. These devas are not supreme divine beings but possess some divine power not all. They are : the Residential (Bhavanavasi), the Peripatetic (Vyantara), the Stellar (Jyotishka) and Heavenly (Vaimanika).
Bhavya Deva, Nara deva. Dharma deva and Bhava deva are subject to karma and hence are not liberated one. They have not yet attained godhood, Divinity. Soul (atta) attains godhood (paramatmatva) when all the karma forms are destroyed and the highest happiness, which is the object of Jain asceticism, is at
THE CONCEPT OF DIVINITY IN JAINISM