Jainism Some Essays

Author(s): A S Gopani
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

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Jainism
Contrary to this, Jainas have accepted the first alternative. Jaina Ācāryas have, indeed, talked about going to the shelter of Tirthan karas; but going to the shelter does not mean that one should have such faith or devotional intensity in or towards Tirthankara as binds him to the worldly cycle, because such an attitude of Mahāvira's principal pupil, Gautama, interfered in his effort to get emancipation. When Mahavira left this mortal coil once for all, Gautama's cyes opened. He saw that his boundless love for his guru, Mabāvira, came in the way of his getting final release. When he realized that he will be able to secure final freedom through his own soul, he did get it. This means, in other words, that he has to depend on his own soul and nothing else for his rise or fall. Seaking the shelter of Tirthnkara means that one should walk with firm conviction on the way shown to him by Tirtharkara and for this what is primarily required is unshakeable faith in him who has shown the path. Without this it is not possible to keep firm and steady. When an aspirant starts walking on the path, his Karmic bondage gets loosened and, thus his faith becomes stronger. When it reaches climax, the aspirant realizes his goal. He becomes purified so much so that he gets emancipation even before Tirthankara who may be at that time moving here and there to preach religion.
(5) Devotion is a goal.
All the devotionists of all hues and colours have takan devotion as an aim and rot as a means. The devotee does not want emancipation. He wants that his devotion reaches a climax : emancipation is a necessary result of it. The devotee gets it by way of a right at a ripe time. But what is note worthy here is that a devotee hankers after cultivation of his devotion and not after salvation.
As opposed to this, the Jainas have utilized the element of devotion as a means only, the aim and end of a being being salvation. All his attempts have been directed towards emancipation. Amongst these is included, to a certain extent, the devotion also. But ultimately, this devotion which is but another name for attachment for others has also to be given up because it is after all attachment, though it may be of a purer form. According to the principle of Jainisin, emancipation is not possible without detachment. This is the reason why a certain Jaipa Ācārya has said :
तव पादौ मम हृदये मम हृदयं तवपदद्वये लीनम् । तिण्ठतु जिनेन्द्र तावद्यावनिर्वाणसंप्राप्तिः ।।
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