Doctrine of Liberation in Indian Religion

Author(s): Shivkumarmuni
Publisher: Munshiram Manoharlal Publisher's Pvt Ltd New Delhi

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community and the laity have always lived in harmony and interdependence. The monks and nuns have preserved the sacred tradition of religious life and learning, while the faithful laity has consistently extended liberality and hospitality towards monks and nuns. As in Theravada Buddhism, so in Jainism, monastic community has always enjoyed a superior and respectful position in Jaina society.
THE JAINA TRADITION
Finally, it should be mentioned that the doctrine of samsara is one of the basic doctrines of Jainism. It implies a pessimistic and ascetic outlook towards this worldly life and its concerns. The existence in samsara is subject to the law of karma. The doctrine of karma is a moral law of retribution. It implies rebirth in this or some other world. Each and every action bears its consequence according as it is good or bad. The doer has to reap the consequences of his deeds in this or next life. This involvement in the chain of moral causation inherent in the law of karma is conceived as bondage (bandhana). There is no end to the series of rebirths so long as karmas continue to bear their consequences. Since rebirth in every form is evil or suffering, existence in samsāra is considered undesirable. The sovereign antedote to this disease of suffering is to uproot the very foundation of tree of conditioned existence in samsara. In other words, he who seeks liberation from the round of transmigration must cut off the chain of karma. The Jaina culture has evolved a detailed system of religious discipline leading to the eradication of karmas and their consequences. THE DEVELOPMENT OF JAINISM
Lord Mahāvīra had eleven Ganadharas or chief disciples who were great and holy men. Their names are as follows: Indrabhuti, Agnibhuti, Vayubhuti, Vyakta, Sudharma, Mandika, Maurya, Akampita, Acalabhrātā, Metarya and Prabhasa.
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All these eleven Gaṇadharas were very learned scholars. They knew the twelve Angas, the fourteen Purvas and the whole siddhänta of the Jainas.99 The two Gaṇadharas named Indrabhuti and Sudharmā survived the parinirvana of Mahāvīra but others had attained liberation after twelve years of Mahavira's parinirvana. After him Sudharma became the head of Mahavira's faith and he narrated all the
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Ganadharavada, p. 8; Samavayanga, comy of Abhayadeva, Ahmedabad, 1938, pp. 69-b, 83-a, 84b-100.b.
Kalpasūtra, SBE, vol. XXII, p. 287.