Concept of Divinity in Jainism

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

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(Varaha) to raise the earth when it was dragged down to the nether regions by a demon." In his Man-lion (Narsimha) incarnation he killed a great king demon who was planning to kill his own son Prahlada; because he was a devotee of Vishnu whom the demon hated, for Vishnu it was necessary to take this form of Narsimha since the demon could be killed neither by a man nor a beast.74 In his Dwarf (Vamana) incarnation, Vishnu assumed the form of young student.75 The Vamana avatara recovered the heavens and the earth for the gods from Bali, a demon. The fifth incarnate, Parashurama, is the symbol of militant Brahmanism and is said to have destroyed the kshatriyas on the earth several times because of their arrogant and unrighteous acts." The Rama incarnation represents (Maryada Purushottama) the noblest ideal manhood. The story of Rama appealed so much to the common man that it was put into epic form in the Ramayana for their delight." The life incidents of this great hero, who stands for all that is noble and virtuous in man, are not only told in some of the finest literature of India, but they are also chiselled beautifully on the walls of many temples.78 Such is the feeling of deep love and adoration for this hero god Rama in many Hindu hearts. It is observed that his monkey devotee (servant), Hanuman, is worshipped as the great hero (Mahavira).
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Krishna is the eighth avatara of the Vishnu called also by - Vasudeva, Purushottama, etc. The name Krishna means "One who attracts or draws", and true to the name no god among the Hindus is now worshipped with the enthusiasm and devotion that Sri Krishna calls forth. Krishna is identified with the Supreme Being. The following passages in Mahabharat illustrates this: "Thou art the source and the destruction of this universe, Krishna; it is thou who created it in the beginning, and it is all in thy power, thou universal source; glory be to thee who wieldest the bow, the discuss, and the sword".79 "The Soul of all, the Omniscient, the all, the all-knowing, the producer of all, the God whom goddess Devaki bore to Vasudeva (Krishna's father). In whom these worlds flutter, like birds in water.' 980
THE CONCEPT OF DIVINITY IN JAINISM
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