ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 01

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 37

2.0 Arihanta (omniscient with human body)5 Arihantas are those living beings who are entirely free from all the four types of obscuring karmasø, namely Knowledge obscuring, perception obscuring, deluding & interfering karmas. By so doing they achieve the four attributes of pure soul called four infinites namely infinite perception, infinite knowledge (omniscience), infinite energy and infinite bliss. Besides these they are crowned with forty six (thirty four extra ordinary and twelve internal and external) glories. The infinite perception and knowledge in Arihantas and Siddhas are found as coexistent and simultaneous and not sequential i.e. not one after the other.
Arihantas are thus living human beings, who as a result of intensive practice of spiritual path of purification and penance have removed the four obscuring karmas completely from their soul and have attained omniscience. They then deliver sermons, based on their experience for our benefit so that we can also practice the path shown by them and attain the omniscience. Todaramal in his monumental work 'Moksa Märga Prakāśaka' has described the characteristics of Arihantas'as under:
2.1 Characteristics of Arihantas An Arihanta is a true believer in self and a living being who had renounced the house holder's life and had accepted monk's conduct (ascetic life) earlier. He has destroyed the four obscuring Karmas through immersion in his soul's intrinsic nature and in him are manifested the highest attributes of four-infinites (infinite perception-knowledge-blissenergy). He, the omniscient, knows directly all substances (6 types of dravyas) simultaneously together with their infinite attributes and modification. Further he has attained the state of perfect serenity and peace by freeing oneself from all sorts of impure dispositions like attachment aversion etc. and has achieved the state of supreme or pure soul state by becoming free from hunger, thirst, birth-death and all sorts of physical maladies thereby turning his body into a supernatural body (Parama-audārika).
5 Niyamsāra by Kundakunda verse 71: Ghanghädikamma rahidā, Kevala nānādi paramguna sahidā ; Cauttisaadisayajuttă, Arihamtā erisa homti 6 Referred as ghāti karmas in Jain texts 7 Called atis yas in Jain texts 8 Reality is indicated as substance Tattvartha-sūtra V.29. These substances are of six types namely living beings, matter, time, and space, principle of motion and principle of rest.
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STUDY NOTES version 5.0