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Essepce of Jainism
Karma, does not accept Isvara as the cause of the orders mentioned above or the cause of the birth of the Univers, like the other philosophies. Other philosophies lay down that the Universe was born at sometime. Relation of iśvara is associated with the birth of the Universe in some way or other in these philosophies, The Nyaya philosophy states that the fruit of good and bad deeds comes only through the inspiration of īśvara.1 in the Vaiseşika pbilosophy, Isvara is assumed as the creator of the Universe and its form is described accordingly. In the Yoga philosophy, Isvara is assumed to be the presiding deity and through that assumed to spread the material universe that results from Prakrii.3 sankarācārya also takes Brahma to be the material cause of che Universe op the basis of the Upanişadıc statements at several places in his Brahma“ūtra Bhāşya 4
But the Jain philosophy looked upon isvara as the inspirer of Karma, so that th: Jiva reaps the fruits. The reason laid down by Karmavāda is that just as the Java is independent in the performance of actions, it is also independent to enjoy the fruits tbere. of. In the same manner, the Jain philosophy does not look upon Isvara as presiding deity of the Universe. This is because of its acceptance that the Universe has no beginning and no end, and is therefore, never born. Again, it requires no presidentship of Isvara because it is itself of the nature of result,
isyura -why is He not the Creator of the Universe and the yielder of the fruits of Actions ?
This world is never newly created, its existence is eternal. Changes continue in it, hwever. There are so many changes in which the need of the effort of human beings is felt to be necessary.
Even changes in which effort, not on anybody's part, is required, take place; these changes go on, as if in a natural course by the various combinations of the gross elements, ie., by heat,
1. Gautamasutra-4-1-1. 2. Prasastapādabhāsya, p. 48. 3. Samadhipadāsūtra 24, Bhāsya and Tika. 4. Ehasya on Brahmasūtra 2.1-26; Brahmasūtra 2-3-6.
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