Jain Journal 1990 07

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 31

JAIN JOURNAL
of the law of karma and repudiating the creatorship or the Governorship of Isvara, they do not like to be looked upon as atheists like the latter. In the theistic schools of the Vedic philosophy, besides the creation of the world, another function is ascribed to God. The Vedas are the source of dharma, i.e., the knowledge of duty and God is said to be the author or the revealer of the Vedas. Accordingly, God is the Seer of the dharma and the first Teacher. While proving the omniscience and the omnipotence of Brahman (sarvajñatvam sarva-śak titvānceti), Sankara quotes from the Sruti :
asya mahato bhūtasya-nihś vasitametad. yadsgvēdah and says that the Vedas and the scriptures have, like breath, emerged from the Great Being, the Isvara or the Brahman. In describing the infallibility of the Vedas, the author of the Nyāya-Sutras says
tat-prāmānyamāpta-prāmānyāt-Nyāya-Sūtram, 2-1-68
The infallibility of the Vedas is due to the infallibility of the apta.
Here the word 'apta' refers to the Veda-reciter (veda-vaktā); Isvara, who is 'Saksātkrtadharma' i.e. the direct knower of the dharma and a faithful Teacher of what he knows
‘yatha-drsțasyārthasya cekhyāpāyişayā prayukta upadeşļā
Kanada also has referred to the teachership of God in the very same manner
tadvacanādamnāyasya—Vaiseșika-Sutram, 1-1-3
Amnaya or the Vedas are words of God. Their infallibility arises from the infallibility of God.
With reference to the teachership of God, the author of the YogaSūtras has said
sa pārveşāmapi guruh kālenăvyavacchedāt
--Yoga-Sūtram : Samadhi-pädah, 26
That beginningless Being is the teacher, even of the early teachers, (e. g. Brahma).
Although the Jainas do not admit an Isvara, who is the worldcreator, they do admit a perfect human Being who is the best of teachers.