________________
In one passage śrīmad points out the superiority of bhakti märga, over jñāna mārga and kriyā märga. He affirms that it is very difficult to follow jñāna märga. There are all chances of downfall prior to self-realization: sandeha (doubt), vikalpa (indecision), svacchandatā (self-willedness), etc. are defects which certainly stand as obstacles in following jñāna mārga. Kriyā märga is also equally difficult. It involves superimposition of self on body and vice-versa. One attaches undue importance to rituals. Powers (siddhis), name, fame etc. are temptations that hinder or block the path of self-realization. Bhakti mārga is the best and safest one for an aspirant. It means a supreme devotion and loyalty to self-realized and enlightened sadguru.
śrīmad again expresses his strong and earnest urge to play the role of a second Mahāvīra and to revise Jain dharma in this age. He says, "By forgetting to recognize the present Mahāvīra (i.e. Śrīmad himself), how far it is possible for souls to have perception of the historical Mahāvīra who is physically no more?" By giving up this error the aspirant should take recourse to śrīmad. He has realized paramātmā, he is the second Rāma or Mahāvīra. In the salutary verse of the poem Ātmasiddhi śrīmad also pays homage to sadguru who, for him, is as holy as god.
Continuing, Srimad then deals with the two categories of aspirants viz. kriyājada and suşka jñānī; the former develops such qualities as renunciation, vairāgya etc. and performs austerities but he lacks in self-knowledge, while suşka jñāni either discards the concept of bondage and liberation or by only studying scriptures he boasts that he is jñāni. He does not believe in means of tapasyā, samyama, vairāgya etc. Thus, kriyājada and sușka jñāni may not be called ātmārthi or a real seeker who having given up his one-sided views, takes shelter in the sadguru (verse 9).
Then Srimad describes the characteristics of a sadguru such as self-knowledge, equanimity unprecedented nature of his preaching which is just like a scripture par excellence. Such a sadguru is even greater than a Jina or a Tirthankara for today's aspirants. Because, due to a sadguru only an aspirant can
Jain Education International
25 For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
