Book Title: Immortality and Joy
Author(s): Champat Rai Jain
Publisher: Champat Rai Jain

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Page 10
________________ (6 ) for his country; but his spirit and influence survive. For there is not a sailor lad in the whole of the United Kingdom who does not brighten up at the meution of Nelson's name,who does not reverently recognise him as a model of greatness for himself, who does not draw powerful nspiration from his life. The nation that placed the statue of this great man in a conspicuous part of the capital of their country knew they were not inerely erecting a statue to the memory of a dead man, but lurying the foundation stone of their own greatness for generations to come. Such is the true significance of Nelson-worship' which takes place on the Trafalgar Day annually. It is not idolatry that we can charge against the English, but idealatry, wbich, if a fault, is one that has been the source of unparalleled greatness the culprit! The Jaina form of worship is, similarly, an instance of idealatry, for devotion to God in Jainism only means levotion to the attributes of divinity which the devotee wishes to develope in his soul, and consists in the blending of the fullest measure of love and respect for those Great Ones who have envolved out those very attributes to perfection in their own case. They ainas ask, for nothing from their Tirthamkaras, no payers are ever offered to Them, nor are they supposed to be granting boons to Their devotees. They are not worshipped because worship is pleasing to Them, but because it the source of the greatest good- the attainment of godly Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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