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Prleks. ] Nyāya-Kusumānjali but what is this sin when compared to the merit achieved from it? Is it not desirable that one should always perform acts where the gain preponderates oyer loss? To say that it is a sheer waste of time to worship image and that it comes in the way of performing important acts is a height of foolishness; for, even image-worship is one of the means of attaining salvation. To laugh at the idea of imageworship by advancing an argument that an image is after all inanimate shows the want of understanding the underlying principle of image-worship, the principle that none can question. Moreover, is it not that people solicit Chinta-ratna though inanimate ?
There is a great deal of variety in the images selected as an object of concentration. Any thing that will enable us to realize our aim, viz., of being free from the fetters of births and deaths, in other words, of attainig the status of God-of reaching salvation is a fit object of serious concentration. A Jaina image of God is the right one to inspire the mind with the sentiment of renunciation (Vairagya). It teaches us the correct posture for concentration and meditation. Such a result can hardly be expected in case an image is so constructed that it has an image of some woman embracing it or sitting by its side, that some weapons are placed in its arms, that it is shown as turning beads or that it is of a ghastly or terrible appearance.
શ્રીગુરૂની મૂર્તિને નમસ્કાર કરવાની માફક ઈશ્વરની પ્રતિમાને નમવામાં પાપ નથી; એથી સમ્યકત્વ પ્રાપ્તિરૂપ મહાફળ મેળવાય છે; એથી
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