________________
150
Essence of jainism
to karma is the sum-total of the preacbing of Lord Mahavira. Another traditional and conventional belief is that all these Scri. ptures with their purport, come down to us, not only from Lord Mahāvira, not only from the preceding Tirtharkaras, but belong to a still earlier time. In a way, this should mean that they have no beginning. The Anga Scriptures are beginpingless as a flow, but they have assumed new form through the utterances of each. new Tirthankara. Ācārya Hemacandra, following Jayanta Bhatta, the famous writer of Nyāya aptly states in his Pramāṇamīmāmsā that
अनादय एवैताः विद्याः संक्षेसविस्तरविवक्षया नवनवीभवन्ति, तत्तत्कर्तकाश्चाच्यन्ते । किन्नानौषीः न कदाचिदनीदृशं जगत् ।
“All these fores, that have no beginning, attain to a new form (with every Tirthankara) with their desire to analyse 'in brief or in details. They are then known as analytical works. (0 pupil) have you not heard that this universe continues just the same since times immemorial ?"
The abovementioned sectarian belief was taken to be true to the last word till today by the sectarians. They justisied the eter
these as do the Mjmāmsakas with reference to the Vedas. Even though the sectarians hold in all honour the abovementioned belief with regard to the scriptures, here, it will be our effort to consider these Karmi scriptures and the Karma element from another point of view. It is historical.
Need of Karma Element
The first question was whether to believe in the Karma element or not; and if yes, on what basis. One view there was that believed in no Puruşārtha other than Kūma and Artha that is its means. According to this view, this world is the only Furușārtha.
This view therefore did not have the need to accept any Karma element which may lead to right or wroug, other birth or the higher world. This view became famous as the Carvāka tradition But parallel to this, right in the ancient day, there were thinkers who stated that there is another birth after death. Again, tbere are other higher and lower worlds in addition to this visible world of
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
