ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 01

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

Page 44

INTERNATION
SCHOOL
OF
SELF STUDY IS THE SUPREME AUSTERITY,
Farenga
परमे
STUDY NOTES version 5.0
तप
Also looking at the image of 'Arihantas' or pondering over their nature or listening to their preaching or beings closer to them or following the path according to their preaching instantly reduce the delusion attachment etc. by becoming instrumental causes and give rise to discriminative knowledge of soul, matter (non-soul) entities etc. So in this way also Arihantas etc. accomplish the purpose of passionless discriminative-knowledge.
By constant contemplation on the Arihantas, our mind finally assumes their qualities. Thus, according to the Jaina-theory, the worship of the ford-makers has no objective goal, but only a subjective one; the ford-makers themselves do not need any adoration because they are elevated above everything that is mundane, and a believer does not get any mercy/ blessings through them because they do not pay any attention to any activity in the world as they stay and enjoy their blissful perfection. But this contemplation or prayers etc are beneficial and necessary for liberation because the one, who accomplishes it, turns a new leaf in his life and is redeemed on account of it.
Ford-makers are the most prominent among the Pañca Paramesthi or the five supreme auspicious beings in Jainism. Siddhas or the Perfect beings that have become absolutely free from this transmigration-cycle are the next. Acaryas or the leaders of the congregation, Upadhyāyas or the teachers and Sadhus or the ascetics are also given their due respect in the cult.
References
This paper is based primarily on the works of two important Digambara philosophers namely:
Acarya Kundakunda: He is the monk most revered and one who had given most of the metaphysical and ethical texts of Digambara Jains. It is said that he had written more than sixty texts of which the three i.e. Samayasara (essence of the soul), Pravacanasara (essence of the doctrine) and Pañcastikāya (the live existents) are called the three jewels. He lived during 1st century and 1st century AD.
Pandit Todarmal: 1719- 1766AD. He lived mostly in Jaipur. He was a deep spiritual thinker and studied original Jin texts, written by Acarya Kundakunda. Even though he was a householder, yet his immersion in self contemplation was exemplary. He wrote a number of texts in the local dialect of the area called Dundhari and are widely read and re-read by the followers of Digambara Jain Kanjipantha. Mokṣa-Marga-Prakāśaka is one of his famous texts.
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