Jainism The Cosmic Vision

Author(s): Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: Mahavir Foundation

Page 7

The Value and Heritage of
Jain Religion
जो सहस्सं सहस्साणं संगामे दुज्जए जिणे । एगं जिणेज्ज अप्पाणं एस मे परमो जओ ।।
- 24 *,
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In war a man may defeat a million invicible enemies but conquering one's own self is the greatest victory
- Uttaradhayayan Sutra, 9-34
A lbert Einstein remarked that the eternal mystery of the world is its intelligibility. True religion fastens to this element of intelligibility and creates a system of thought and action which leads to true harmony and bliss. And it is indeed so with Jainism.
Jainism is one of the oldest living religions of the world. The term Jain means the devotee of Jinas (Spiritual Victors). Jinas are called so because they have won victory over passions of attachment, aversion, etc. that defile the soul. As a result, they have attained omniscience and supreme bliss. They are enlightened human teachers. They are also called Tirthankaras (Ford-makers). Here in the context, ford means Tirthankara's words and teaching which help living beings to cross the ocean of misery or transmigratory existence. In every halfcycle of Time, there flourish twenty-four Tirthankaras. The twenty-fourth Tirthankara of the present half-cycle of Time is Vardhamana, known as Mahavira.