Concept of Divinity in Jainism

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

Page 39

ticular domains or planes or elements, become bodies of the Divine One, and the names that they have got have to be referred to that Supreme One Being. In either case, all worship, when done with the knowledge of that Supreme Divinity will help the realisation of liberation and integral revelation.39 Divinity in Upanishads
Apart from Vedas, Upanishads also enunciate the Hindu concept of divinity. Upanishads are otherwise called Veda-anta, which contains philosophical thinking. The Brahman is the absolute-the source, sustainer, and end of everything in the world. The self is conscious and present not only for certain moments but is present for ever. The self is the most important fact in reality. The self is the thing by which every other thing in universe lives and moves and has its being. The teaching that "Not for the sake of the wife is wife dear, but for the sake of the self is the wife dear” expounded by Yajnavalkaya to his wife Maitreyi reveals the fullest value and worth of the experiences of Brahman as Self.40 Brahman is knowledge and bliss is the final goal of him and to know himself (Brahman).41 In the beginning there was only Brahman and none else.42 While replying to Vidagdha Sakalya, Yajnavalkya said that one being is the Brahman of many, gods numbering three, thirty three, ...... 30003.43 It is a self which rules earth and exist in earth, air, water, etc. and is immortal.44 The God is hidden in all beings, including the inner self. He is witness. He is knower. He is a perceiver and free from qualities.45 It is in the heart, centred in all these moves, breaths, and winks. It is the supreme object.46 It is a great strong self, is a super power and it wanders. 47 It is divine and formless, a great self which is beyond un-manifestation. Beyond the spirit there is nothing, it is pure without breath and without mind and is higher than the highest immutable.48
He has no master, no ruler, there is no progenitor, mark or sign of him. 49 He does not have organ or action, he does not have
THE CONCEPT OF DIVINITY IN JAINISM