Istopadesa The Golden Discourse

Author(s): Vijay K Jain
Publisher: Vikalp

Page 21

Istopadeśa - The Golden Discourse
The four infinitudes (ananta catuṣtaya) comprise: 1. ananta jñāna - infinite knowledge; 2. ananta darśana - infinite perception; 3. ananta sukha-infinite bliss; and 4. ananta vīrya -infinite energy.
Of the thirty-four miraculous happenings (atiśaya), ten appear naturally at the time of birth, ten on attainment of infinite knowledge (kevalajñāna), and the remaining fourteen are fashioned by the celestial devas.
The eight splendours (prātihārya) are: 1. aśoka vrkņa – the Ashoka tree; 2. simhāsana – bejeweled throne; 3. chatra – three-tier canopy; 4. bhāmandal – halo of unmatched luminance; 5. divya dhvani – divine voice of the Lord without
lip movement; 6. puspa-varşā – shower of fragrant flowers; 7. camara – waving of sixty-four majestic hand-fans; and 8. dundubhi – dulcet sound of kettle-drums and other
musical instruments. The Omniscient ultimately destroys, with the powerful fire of concentration, the other four main types of karmas, called nondestructive (aghātiyā) karmas – the feeling (vedanīya), the agedetermining (āyuḥ), the physique-making (nāma), and the statusdetermining (gotra). He then attains complete emancipation or final liberation. The released pure soul (Siddha jīva), in the absence of karmas which lead to wandering in different states of worldly existence, darts up to the summit of the universe and remains there for eternity.
The eight supreme qualities of the liberated souls, indicating perfection par excellence, are:
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