Jainism a Theistic Philosophy

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

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JAINISM: A THEISTIC PHILOSOPHY "GOD IN JAINISM"
meditation, equanimity and non-violence, which were absent in early Vedic literature, came into existence in Hinduism through Śramanic influence.
Brāhmanic System: During Monarchic age in Indian history, Brahmanism monopolized the knowledge of Vedic mantras and hymns, which contained prayers to gods and rituals to perform the sacrifices. They were taken from Brāhmaṇas, the second part of Veda, to please the gods who were merely deified forces of the nature. In the Vedic religion different hymns were addressed to various gods, to name a few are Varuņa (water), Sürya (Sun), Pșthvī, (Earth), Vāyu (wind) and so on. Later on Hiranyagarbha, Viśvakarmā, Prajāpati and Indra were evolved. So, the Brāhmaṇas became dominant in the society, and dictated their supremacy in religious functions, cultural matters and social life. Brāhmaṇa's ritualism was represented by the priests who vigorously claimed that the welfare and, indeed, the very existence of the world, including even the Gods, depend upon the maintenance of their system of sacrifice, which grew to immense size and complexity.
According to one of the etymological meanings of Brāhmana, the term “Brāhmana' is derived from the root “Brh” which means to grow, to expand and to evolve and to develop the spirit or soul. Prayers described in Brāhmaṇas, the Vedic literature, were kept in custody by the priests who were considered to be the offspring of Prajāpati, the creator-god. A system was evolved thereby generous offerings had to be made to the gods and liberal gifts had to be offered to the Brahmins (priest) for the sacrifices of horses or cattle's or poultry. Rituals of worship and sacrifices were made complicated and hence the Brahmins became the so of cult and obtained high position in the society, at large. Rites or rituals so performed both to gain worldly enjoyment and to injure one's enemies.
Ascetic practices in Vedic or Brāhmanic tradition developed a sort of mystical union with a personal God that becomes