Jain Journal 2002 10

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

Page 31

98
JAIN JOURNAL : VOL-XXXVII, NO. 2 OCT, 2002
Indian soil. We find deep-rooted in both the religions the process of invoking God, giving oblations, offering fine articles, ārati, visarjana etc.
In Jain culture the word Caityālaya is used to represent temple shrine. We find used frequently in Jain culture the words Caityagrha and Basadi.
The älaya or abode which comprises Caitya is termed as Caityālaya/Caityagrha. These terms have been expounded by Jain Ācāryas in the background of Niscayanayana and Vyavahāranayana. Caitya is derived from the word cit which means soul (ātmā), knowledge (ināna) and light (prakāša). Kundakundācārya has described Caitya as Atnā.
Cā lyam Bandham Dukkham Sukkham că appayam Thassa...... Bodhapāhuda 9.
Atmā who enjoys bandha, moksha, duḥkha or sukha is the Caitya.
Even though the relative meaning of caitya is associated with ātmā which enjoys joys and sorrows, it is further expounded that it is he soul which has attained a high and noble status. It is established that caitya is the great ritualistic ātmā and the sages who wear it are the Caityagrha.
The body of the disinterested Sādhus is different from their soul on account of their niscayanaya view and enlightenment. In the Jina path they are the image of jangama. These sādhus look upon their bodies as well as the bodies of all living beings as the image of jangama. (Bodhapähuda 8). Those who lead an austere life, who are right minded thinkers and who are able to know their real image through right philosophy are the nirgranthas who are the caitya who have conquered all desires and are cntitled for praise. (Bodhapāhuda).
From the point of view of Vyavahāranaya in the commentary on Bhagavati Arādhanā, Caitya is used in the sense of reflection/image. (Caityam pratibimbam iti-Caitya-means image). The image made of candana, kaņakamaņi, sphatikamaņi, etc, is the image of the abode (commentary on Bodhapähuda)
A sage who is the embodiment of panca mahāvrata, who possesses the enlightened soul capable of knowing sva and para becomes the Caityagrhal Bodhapāhuda-8). Caityagrha is the one which aims at the welfare of satkāya along the Jina path. (Cē lyam Jinamagge chakkaya Hiyakaram Bhaniyam Bodhapāhuda-9).