Introduction to Jainism and its Culture

Author(s): Balbhadra Jain
Publisher: Kundkund Gyanpith Indore

Page 70

Third Chapter
JAIN RELIGION AND WORSHIP OF VIRTUES
NAMING OF JAIN RELIGION
In this world we may find many such individuals who could hold a lion with its limbs and throw it on the ground. We may find individuals who could pacify a mad elephant with the blow of their fist. There is no dearth of individuals who could single handedly defeat powerful adversaries. Such individuals are called brave. But a person who could win over his inner perversions or vices; in other words, who has absolute self-control is rare to find. Such victor of the self is called Jina. He is not just brave, he is extremely brave or a great hero.
Jina is not a name of some particular person. Those who have triumphed over their perversions and finally removed them from their souls, such victors of the self are called Jina. Victory over the self does not come as a favour by someone, it is attained through a tremendous effort by the soul or the self itself. This victory is achieved by shifting from unhealthy extroversion to healthy introversion. Those who have won over the self get free of the mundane indulgences, passions, and the dirt of karmas. As a result the pure blissful form of soul is revealed. Only as long as the Jina has the human body he is called Jina. He is also called Arhat, Sakala, or Saśarīrī Paramātmā (the supreme-soul with a body). When his life span comes to an end and he abandons this human body he is called Siddha, Nikala, or Aśarīrī Paramātmā (the supreme-soul without a body).
The sermons given by and the path shown by that detached Jina for victory over the self and self-realization has a specific form but no name. But for mundane purpose or for the sake of convenience it has been given a name. It was the path shown by the Jina or the religion of the Jina, therefore it became popularly known as Jain Dharma, Jain religion, or Jainism.