Outlines of Jainism

Author(s): J L Jaini, F W Thomas
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

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OUTLINES OF JAINISM
These free souls are of two kinds
1. Disembodied and in nirrāņa at the summit of the Universe, steady and in bliss umending. These are called Siddhas (9). They are also distinguished into two kinds according as in their embodied condition they did or did not preach and propound the Truth. If they did, then in nirvana they are tirthankara-siddha (8). There have been twenty-four such in the current cyclic period, avasarpini (10). (See below, p. 15.) If they did not preach and propound the truth, they are sūmānyasiddha.
2. Embodied souls which have attained omniscience, but have not yet discarded the last vestments of human body. These are the Arhats (7).
Both these classes have innumerable qualities, but eight of the first and forty-six of the second class are specially mentioned. (These are named in Appendix IV.)
Besides the omniscient Arhats, there are sages, or human souls in a higher spiritual condition than other men : these are saints, sādhus or munis. They are distinguished into three classes
1. Achārya—the head of the saints. He has among others thirty-six qualities (11). Appendix IV.
2. Upādhyāya. This is a teaching saint; he has twenty-five qualities (12). Appendix IV.
3. Sādhu. This is the saint or ascetic simply ; he has twenty-eight qualities (13). Appendix IV.
The above five classes-siddha, arhat, üchārya, upādhyāya, and sūdhu—are called the pañcha-parameshthin, or the five supreme ones, of Jainism. To these