Namokar Mahamantra Ek Anushilan

Author(s): Hukamchand Bharilla
Publisher: Todarmal Granthamala Jaipur

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GREAT HYMN OF OBEISANCE: A CONTEMPLATION
I AM MYSELF GOD
rickshaw for his living. It is for this reason, songs of right knowledge are whole-heartedly sung in Jain scriptures. It has been said -
ज्ञान समान न आन जगत में सुख को कारण ।
इह परमामृत जन्म-जरा-मृतु रोग निवारण ।।' Gayan saman ne aan jagat me sukh ko karan,
eha parmamrat janam-jara-maratu rog nivaran' There is no other material in this world which gives greater happiness than knowledge. This knowledge is supreme nectar that treats diseases such as birth, old age and death, it is the best medicine. And, see further -
जे पूरब शिव गये जाहिं अरु आगे जैहैं।
सो सब महिमा ज्ञानतनी मुनीनाथ कहै हैं ।। Je purab shiv gaye jahin aru agge jehen,
so sab mahima gayantani muninath kahe han All souls that have attained infinite bliss till now i.e. those who have achieved salvation or are attaining or would attain salvation, have done so due to the glory of knowledge - so is said by Jinendra Bhagwan, protector of all monks.
While glory of right knowledge is infinite, but the glory of right faith, as per Jain scriptures, is said to be even greater and is sung so.
"Why and how?
Suppose, that rickshaw puller crorepati child has now become youth of 25 years. The deposit of rupees one crore in his name has matured, even then no one has approached the bank to claim it. Therefore, the bank notified in newspapers that such and such amount is deposited in the name of the specified individual and that he should withdraw the amount within one month; if nobody turns up within one month, the money would be deposited with the Government, treating it as unclaimed.
This message was read by that youth as well and he felt highly 1. Pandit Daulatram : Chahdhal, 4 Dhal, Chhand 4 2. Pandit Daulatram : Chahdhal, 4 Dhal, Chhand 8
pleased, but his happiness proved momentary because doubts arose in his mind the very next moment.
He started thinking, "How could such a large sum be deposited in bank in my name? I never deposited any amount. I do not have any account in any bank." Even then he read the message again carefully and felt that it was his name only and that in the place of father's name, his father's name was mentioned. Some hope kindled. But the very next moment, he thought that there could be another person with the same name and owing to certain coincidence his father's name might also be the same. Thus he became suspicious again.
Despite knowing in this manner, he could not believe; he could not muster faith that the money belonged to him only. Thus, there was no advantage even after knowing. This proves that without knowing or by merely knowing without believing, no advantage can emerge. Thus, faith, belief and realisation are more important than knowledge.
In the same manner, we do learn from scriptures that the soul is supreme-self (appa so paramappa) but faith does not arise from the inner-self to accept, "I am myself Godlike, God and Bhagwan." This is the reason, that despite knowing, "I am myself God", misery does not vanish due to absence of right faith, transmigration in four categories of mundane existence does not come to an end, real happiness deludes.
That youth also tells about the news read by him in newspapers to his colleagues. Showing the message, he said, "See, I am a crorepati. Do not consider me a poor rickshaw puller any more." Saying so, he amuses himself and his colleagues. In a way he pokes a joke at his own cost.
Similarly, we also read scriptures and narrate to our colleagues. We say, "Look, we all are Bhagwan, not poor-destitute persons." Through such spiritual discourses, we amuse the society and ourselves but we fail to take the real advantage of being Bhagwan due to the absence of right faith, self-realisation does not occur, real happiness is not achieved; restlessness does not vanish.
In this manner, the spiritual debate of ignorant persons is merely an intellectual exercise, in the absence of self-realisation, right knowledge, and right faith.
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