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STAGES ON THE PATH.
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by the total destruction of the four kinds of ghâtiâ karmas, but indicating the association with the physical body due to the operation of certain aghâtiâ prakritis. Those who evolve out the tirthamkaru, prakriti become the Master (tirthamkara) who reveals the true dharma (religion). Surrounded by devas and men who hie from all quarters to offer Him devotion, the Tirthamkara explains the truth in the divine anakshari* language, which is interpreted into popular speech, for the benefit of the masses, by an advanced disciple and muni called gañadhara. The truth thus known is called sruti (revelation), or sruta jñana, and its absolute accuracy is guaranteed by the faculty of omniscience which does not come into manifestation so long as there remains the least trace of any of the energies of the mohaniya karma.
(14) Ayoga kevali (ayoga, without mind, speech and body, and kevali, ominiscient). This is the last stage on the Path, and is followed by the soul's ascent to ņirvâna on the exhaustion of the aghâtiá karmas. The jiva who passes this stage is called siddha. He has now become fully established in Right Faith, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct, and is freed from
* It is somewhat difficult to give an exact description of the analeshari speech; it consists of the powerful, audible vibrations of the tirthamkara's will become omnipotent by the destruction of the ghátiá karmas. These vibrations impinge on the mind of the congregation in a manner akin to the process of thought-transference of the telepathic type, and are at the time heard by all who understand them in their own tongues. Subsequently they are translated into popular speech and constitute what is called Agama (Scripture). The ordinary mode of conversation is not possible for the tirthanikara on account of the changes wrought by tapa in His organs of speech.
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