________________
Krishna declares in Bhagavad-Gita, "Who sees me in all and all in Me, for him I am not lost, and he is not lost for me" 81 "There is nothing else that is higher than I (beyond, outside of me); on me this all is strung like necklace of pearls on a string".82
"Surrendering all duties come to me alone for shelter. Do not grieve; for I will release thee from all sin".83 This call of God to the devotee to surrender unto Him is held to be of utmost importance by the shrivaishnavaits. Thus, the supreme personality of Godhead is Krishna, an incarnate Supreme Divinity.84
The ninth Incarnation of Vishnu, the Buddha, the founder of a religious order which is heterodox from the Hindu point of view, is given a place in the ten incarnations. In the Puranas, Vishnu is said to have been born as "the Deluder" in the Shakya race in order to delude the demons with false doctrines and thus work for their undoing. Unlike all the others, Kalkin tenth incarnation is not yet accomplished. As the Jews still wait for the promised lessiah who is to re-establish the righteousness, so it is the pious hope and expectation of the Hindus that Vishnu will again incarnate himself for the universal prosperity, peace and dharma.
Shiva:
Shiva is the God of destruction or absorption in the concept of the Holy Hindu Triad. According to devout Shaivas, He, however, not only destroys, but also creates, sustains, obscures by his power of illusion (maya), and offers grace to the suffering world. Shiva was known as the father-God, the lord of animals, and the great ascetic from very ancient, pre-Vedic times. The devotees of Shiva are also spread all over India. There are number of Shaivite sects which hold Shiva as the only Supreme God. He is Pure, Omnipotent, Omniscient Gracious.85 He is worshipped mainly in the form of Linga.86
Dr. Karan Singh observes that the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are not the three different gods but different aspects of the and the same Divine Being.
30
Jain Education International
THE CONCEPT OF DIVINITY IN JAINISM
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
