Jainism from the View Point of Vedantic Acaryas

Author(s): Yajneshwar S Shastri
Publisher: B J Institute

Page 52

Śri Rāmānujācarya and Jainism Presentation of Janism
Śri Rāmānujācārya (1017-1137 A.D.) is the chief exponent of Vaisnava school of Philosophy. His philosophical system is known as the Višiştādvaita (qualified Monism). He was familiar with almost all principles of Jainism. He gives detailed account of Jainism. His presentation is very similar to that of Sankarācārya. He says, 'According to Jainas, there is no God, the world consists of Jiva (Soul) and ajiva (non-soul). The world is made up of six substances, viz., the soul, which has knowledge, faith happiness and valour, and all other five substances are unconscious. Pudgala (matter) is that substance which possesses colour, smell, flavour and touch. It is of two kinds, of the nature of atoms and of the nature their aggregate i.e. the elements and the things elemental-air, fire, water, earth, body, world etc. The Kāla (time) is again, a special kind of substance, atomic, the cause of practical dealing in the form of, was, is, would be etc. Ākāśa (Space) is also one and infinite in extension. They also accept another division among these substances viz., five astikāyas known as jīvāstikāya, dharmāstikāya, adharmāstikāya, pudgalāstikāya and ākāśāstikāya. The word astikāya refers to a substance residing in many regions. These Jains also accept another divisions, which is useful for liberation of Jivas viz., Jiva (soul), ajīva (non-soul), āsrava (inflow of karmas), bandha (bondage), samvara (stoppage of inflow of Karma), nirjară (annihilation of