Lecture On Jainism

Author(s): Lala Banarasidas
Publisher: Anuvrat Samiti

Page 63

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Shastras were based, or that they had no ancient history. It may be, and it is a fact according to Jain Shastras, that in the 4th Kala, which ended by the time of the Moksha of Mahavira, Jainism was in much greater force than it is now.
I would
now pass a few remarks on the philosophy and tenets of the Jains.
Tenets of the Jains.
The Jains say that this world exists from eternity. It has no creator. It consists of Loka and Aloka. The Loka is divided int. Urdava Loka or the heavens, the Madhya Loka or the Earth, and Patala Loka or the hells. There are two things in this world, Jiva and Ajiva. Jivas are of six kinds, Earth Jivas, Fire Jivas, Wind Jivas, Water Jivas, Vinashapati and moving living beings or tris. The tris are dwi-indriya, tri-indriya, chatur-indriya, and panch-indriya. The panch-indriyas are divided into Shayani or those having Mana, and Ashayani or those having no Mana. Of all the panch-indriyas man is the most important, for it is only man who can obtain Nirvana. An inhabitant even of the highest heaven cannot obtain Moksha. For being a Jin or Arhat he must be born as man. Ajivas are of five kinds, pudgala, dharma, adharma, kala and akasha. Living beings are a combination of Jiva or soul and pudgala or matter. This union of the soul with matter is eternal. The Karmans are also matter. The soul under the bondage of the Karmans is moving in a circle of births. The coming of the new Karmans is called Ashrava. Their binding of the soul is called Bandha. To prevent the coming of the