Portrait of Jain Religion

Author(s): Narendra Jain
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

Page 21

knowledge-obstructing particles of transient and illusory material attachments and passions. True happiness begins to elude the soul on account of the false perception of joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain born out of the materialistic environment surrounding all living beings. This happens due to Asrava i.e., influx of karmas followed by Bandh ( bondage of karmas). Depending on the merit or otherwise of karmas, rebirth could be in any of the four gatis' namely celestial beings (devas), human beings (manushya), other living beings (tiryanch), and hell beings (naraki ). During each life cycle, a soul may add or get rid of positive and negative karmas. The more it sheds negative karmas, the better it can move up on the ladder to liberation from the cycle of birth and death. Jain religion charts out the spiritual path steadily moving up through 14 stages for soul purification and self-realization of soul's true eternal nature through a process of Samvar (stoppage of the influx of karmas), Nirjara (partial exhausion of karmas), and finally Moksha (total liberation from karmas). Infact the nomenclaeture of Jain religion is derived from the word “JINA' which is a synonym of Tirthankar, who has conquered his Self and attained Enlightenment. Unique to Jain religion is the Shraman tradition with its legendary glory of Tirthankars as Path-finders and role models. Beginning with Adinath or Rishabhdev, who was the founder of Jain Religion, and ending with Mahavir, there have been , in the present cycle of time, 24 Tirthankars. Tirthankars were born like any other human beings, but it is through their bold, total and voluntary renunciation from worldly life, and taking to the life of "Veetraag' (total detachment) that they moved towards achieving Omnicience (Keval Gyan) and sublime enlightenment.
The process involved intense and dedicated Sadhana (devoted and disciplined effort), deep introspection, in-depth study and observation, meditation, penance and suffering. Mahavir went through this process for over 12 years before he could achieve
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A Portrait of Jain Religion