________________
418
Jaina Philosophy and Religion
possesses no qualification appropriate to a rājā (Sanskrit for king), but whom somebody has given the name Rājä. (2) The meaning which has in view a copy, statue or picture of the real thing is the meaning of the type called sthāpanā-niksepa. We call a statue, picture or photograph of the real thing rājā rājā, just as we call an image of God God. Here we employ the term ‘rājā' in the sense of the representation of the real rājā. In this usage we superimpose the real thing on its representation, viz., a statue, photograph, picture, etc. (3) The meaning which has in view a past or future state of a thing is the meaning of the type called dravyaniksepa. For example, a person who was rājā in the past or is going to be rājā in future is called rajā, though at present he is not rājā. The term 'dravya' in the word 'dravya-niksepa' has the sense of worthiness (pātratā). From the standpoint of worthiness he is rājā. He is dravya-rājā. Here we should take the term 'dravya' in the sense of worthiness. This means that the person who was rājā in the past or who is going to be rājā in future is worthy of being rājā, but is actually not rājā at present. (4) The meaning which satisfies the etymology of the concerned word is the meaning of the type called bhāva-nikṣepa. It is well-known that a person is called rājā, when he is actually carrying the royal sceptre and is shining with glory on that account.
Thus a word, when employed, yields four meanings, viz., nāma, sthāpanā, dravya and bhāva.
We worship Supreme Soul (God) by respectfully remembering and muttering His name, or worshipping His image. We can also worship Him by devotedly serving the spiritual teacher, because the real spiritual teacher can be regarded as Supreme Soul (God) in potentia. In this way, these meanings, viz., nama-niksepa, sthāpanā-niksepa and dravya-niksepa (rather our activities performed with respect to these three meanings) lead to bhāva-niksepa (rather the activity with respect to the bhāva-niksepa, or the actual attainment of the actual thing or state corresponding to the actual etymological meaning of the concerned word).
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
