Jainism a Theistic Philosophy

Author(s): Krishna A Gosavi
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 19

INTRODUCTION
all impurities, body and senses, and to be associated with omniscience and purity. He is free from birth, old age and death; he is supreme, pure and devoid of eight karmas; he possesses infinite knowledge, intuition, bliss and power, and he is indivisible, indestructible and inexhaustible;-' Besides, he is super sensuous and unparalleled, free from obstructions, merit, demerit and rebirth, and is eternal, steady and independent. This pure and perfect stage of soul is accepted as supreme being or God of gods i.e. Devādhideva.
I. (ii) Theism & Atheism Western& Indian View:
The Jaina system of thought is so peculiarly constant with modern science that one may be tempted to question its antiquity. Still it is a fact that such a system flourished in India several centuries before 'Christian era.
Jainas are of the opinion that very attempt to posit an allruling extra mundane God is to conceal the ignorance of true principles of causality under a pomp of delusive reasoning an - ignorance unaware of itself.
(a)The Meaning of Theism:
Theism of West in day-to-day language is: 1. The belief in one God as creator and ruler of the universe, without
rejection of revelation (distinguished from deism). 2. Belief in the existence of God or Gods (opposed to atheism)21
According to Jainism the theism is to believe or have a faith in the Supreme Being i.e. Arihanta Paramātmā.
One may develop adoration or love for God but may not try to find out speculative explanation of world, and God himself. Theistic definition of God of West also assumes that the God is from
"Mokşapāhuda 5/6, Niyamasāra, 7 20 Niyamasāra, 176 James Hastings (Editor) Extract from “Encyclopedia of Religion” and Ethics; (Extract)