Jaina Concept of Omniscience

Author(s): Ramjee Singh
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

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CLASSIFICATION AND CATEGORISATION
normal qualities which may be found to some extent even in beings not otherwise perfect."
This view is also supported by common sense. Unless a Tirthankara is all-knowing, how can he create a reliable agama? The importance of this point is also admitted by the Mimamsakas, when they attribute the power of omniscience in matters of dharma to the Vedas. The Nyaya-Vaiseṣika holds that the omniscient God is the creator of the scripture (Vedas). In short, in order to ensure the reliability to the Agamas, Omniscience of Tirthankaras becomes a necessity. Secondly, the Jainas did not believe in the efficacy of rites and rituals as a means for spiritual salvation; they accept the path of knowledge, faith and conduct. It is likely, therefore, that they glorified the concept of knowledge into omniscience. Thirdly, Jainism is a religion of self help and so it wanted that man should realize his highest good through his own efforts and finally attain infinite knowledge Omniscience for the Jainas is a realisable ideal for human beings. Fourthly, Jaina thinkers hold that knowledge is the nature of the soul. Omniscience, therefore, if once attained is never lost, because it inheres in the soul and the soul is immortal. Here the Jaina concept of omniscience can be distinguished even from the highest yogic intuition of the Nyay-Vaiseṣika and Pātañjala--Yoga, According to the Nyaya-Vaisesika," the power of apprehending reality in its fulness and harmony, " i. e. omniscience, is produced, and whatever is produced is bound to be non-eternal.'
2 Samantabhadra, Āpta-Mimāmsa, K., 1-3, 9; Also see Asta Sahasri, pp. 3-50; Apta-Parikṣa, K. 3-5; Ratna Karanda Śravakacāra of Samantabhadra, K. 5.
3 Kumārila, Śloka-Vārtika, II. 110–111.
4 Umāswāmi. Tattvartha Sutra, I. 1.
5 Kundakunda, Pravacana Sāra, I. 9: I. 13.
6 Prasastapāda, Padartha-dharma-samgraha with Sridhara's NyāyaKandali, trans, Jha G. N.., p. 258.
7 Ibid., p. 187,