________________
to become Parmatman or Supreme Soul. And Supreme Soul and God are in reality one and the same thing. Thus though there is no such being distinct from the world called, yet certain of the elements of the world when properly developed obtain deification who are called Arhats, the supreme lords, the omniscient soul who have overcome all faults. Jainas worship these Arhats Tirthankaras, the pure and perfect souls merely for the sake of their purity and perfection and not for the expectation of any reward in return. The belief in such a God is in and through imbued with all the vitality and strength of life. It does not make us dependent on any Almighty Ruler for our existence and blessedness in this life or in life hereafter, “Rather it makes us feel that we are independent autonomous individuals who can carve out paths for ourselves here and hereafter both for enjoyment and emancipation of our souls by our own will and exertion." We have before us great lives of Tirthankaras and we can make our lives sublime by following the footprints on the sands of time of Ideal Tirthankaras. These Tirthankaras who attained to Omniscience and quietitude i.e. Nirvana, by the dissipation of karma, remind us that we are also able to raise ourselves from the bogs of the world and to attain to Nirvana by like dissipation of our Karma. Thus we find that Jainism is not atheistic religion, that the Jainas do believe in a God after their own way of thinking; a belief that "does not cast us into the moulds of those weaklings who love to creep with a quivering prayer on their lips to the silent doors of the Deity, nor of those who crowl, beating breast at every step before his fictitious feet or figure to adore"., but which makes us feel that we are free individuals capable of attaining Godhood.
Jainism is one of the oldest religions of the world. The teachings of Mahavira, the last Tirthankara of twenty-four 'Tirthankaras, bring out the importance of the practical life. Truth and non-violence are noblest principles of life that humanity is highly obliged to. They teach that evil can not be won by evil, but by goodness, vanity by modesty and aggressiveness by humility.
Dr. C.P. Ramswaami Ayyar
Mahavira Jayanti marika, 76
4-13
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
