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Jaina Community-A Social Survey
mentals; because only on its acquisition, knowledge and conduct become right. Right belief means true and firm conviction in the seven principles or tattvas of Jainism as they are and without any perverse notions. The belief that the Jaina Tirthankaras are the true Gods, the Jaina Šāstras the true Scripture, and the Jaina Saints the true Preceptors, is called right belief. Such right faith should have eight requirements (Aiiga) and should be free from the three types of superstitious ignorance and ihe eight kinds of pride or arrogance. The eight Airgas or requirements or pillars which support the right belief are :
(i) Niḥsankita, that is, freedom from doubt, (ii) Nishkāirkshita, that is, freedom from desire for worldly
comforts, (iii) Nirvichikitsita, that is, freedom from aversion to or
regard for the body, (iv) Amūąhadrshti, that is, freedom from inclination for
the wrong path, (v) Upagūhana, that is, redeeming the defects of işeffictive
believers, (vi) Sthitikarana, that is, sustaining souls in right convic
tions, (vii) Vātsalya, that is, loving regard for pious persons, and (viii) Prabhāvanā, that is, publishing the greatness of Jaina
doctrines. The three types of superstitious ignorance, wūdhas, from which a true believer must be free, are-(i) loka-mūdha, (ii) deva-mūdha and (iii) păshandhi-mūdha. The first refers to the superstition regarding attachment of sanctity to certain places of belief like; a bath in the Ganges will wash off the sins. The second accepts the efficacy of village gods and goddesses who are endowed with ordinary human qualities and attempts to propitiate them. The third shows regard for false ascetics and considers their teaching as gospel truth. Freedom from these three types of superstitions is the essential condition of right faith.
Along with these there must be freedom from eight kinds of pride. The eight kinds are :
Pride in (i) learning (jñāna), (ii) worship (Pūjā ), (iii)
