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CHAPTER- VI
JAINA CONCEPT OF THEISM AND GOD
VI. (i) Introduction
Due to imperfect acquaintance with the Jaina literature, Jainism is criticized by some scholars, especially western, as a mere bundle of rules of ascetic disciplines or a system metaphysically barren. Paramātma-prakāśa' clearly shows what part of mysticism plays in Jainism and how it is worked out in the background of Jaina metaphysics. The Jaina mysticism is sure to be all the more interesting, if we remember the fact that Jainism is polytheistic religion (believes in numerous celestial beings-devas) and believes in, that, it is not the responsibility of God to create the world.
Jainism belongs to śramaņa tradition, one of the two chief currents of Indian thought i.e. Vedic or Brāhmaṇa and Sramaņa. “Brāhmanic system belongs to Vedic Brāhmaṇas whereas Šramaņic system belongs to the Śramaņas of which Jainism and Buddhism is the two main exponents. The term Śramaņa is derived from the words “Sam', 'Sama' and 'Srama.'The word “Sam' represents equality (sāmya), “Sama' represents Samana or dissipation of karmas and finally “śrama' denotes hard life or asceticism. The term Brāhmaṇa has multiple meanings, two out of which are (1) prayers or worship and (2) rituals.?
Both these currents of ancient Indian thought have sufficiently interacted with each other in the area of theology.
Like all other living beings man struggles for existence, while the lower beings struggle more or less blindly without any conscious
Yogindudeva, "Paramātma Prakāśa", Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram, Agas, 1960 Pt. Sukhlal Sanghvi, “Jaina Dharam no Prāna”, referred by Dr. Hemant Shah “Jain Theism”, Ahmedabad, 1997
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