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JAINA CULTURE
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Airavatas and five Videhas). Devakuru, Uttarakuru, Haimavata, Hari, Ramyaka, Hairanyavata and the midisles are called regions of enjoyment (bhogabhamis). The regions of labour are the lands of plenty of activity. In the regions of enjoyment all the objects are provided by desire-fulfilling trees (Kolpaulkşas). The Aryas are born only in the civilized countries of the regions of labour. The Mlecchas take birth in the uncivilized countries of the regions of labour and in all the regions of enjoyment (including all the midisles). It is the privilege of the Arya territory alone to give birth to tirthankaras and to get benefit of their sermons. The attainment of emancipation is possible only in the regions of labour. The regions of enjoyment are only for enjoying worldly objects. They are not fit for observing asceticism or self-discipline which enables man to attain liberation. Nobody thinks to renounce the world and take to selfdiscipline in these regions. People belonging to the regions of enjoyment are always after worldly objects. Hence, they are unable to attain emancipation. Even gods have to take birth in the regions of labour to attain liberation. Humbleness and sincerity constitute the cause of birth as a human being.
Tirthankara:
The word 'flrthankara' means 'ford-maker". One who makes a ford (tirtha) through this world to liberation is known as tirthankara. This ford consists of a community of monks, nuns, laymen (male lay-votaries) and laywomen (female layvotaries). These four states of human life are helpful in atta: ining emancipation, that is, they constitute the ford leading to liberation.
The rise of the tirthankara-namakarma is the cause of one's birth as a tirthankara. The causes of the influx of this type of karma are enumerated as purity of faith, reverence, observ. ance of vows without transgression, ceaseless pursuit of knowledge, perpetual fear of the cycle of transmigration, giving
