Pristine Jainism

Author(s): S M Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 57

(54)
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Pristine Jainism
यत्त ऊनं तत्त आपूरयाति प्रजापतिः ।
Atharva Veda- 12-26-62
i.e. The sun is throwing out several trillions tons of energy but it is being replenished naturally.
कतरा पूर्वा कतरापरायोः कथा जाते कवयः को वि वेद ॥
Rgveda 1-185-1
i.e. Ṛgveda questions: If the universe was created then what for? From where? Who saw it being created?
न वि जानामि यतरा परस्तात् । Atharva Veda-10-7-43
i.e. Brahma says, “I do not know who was created first.”
Kumārila Bhaṭṭa the famous Vedic scholar also opposed creation theory in his treatise Ślokavārtika:
प्रवृत्ति कथमाद्या च जगतः स्मप्रतीयते ।
शरीरादेर्विना चास्य कथमिच्छापि सर्जने ॥
Slokavārtika,Sambandhāksepaparihāra Prakarana447
i.e. What was the reason for creation of universe? If it is because of wishes of God, then how God who is without body, can have wishes.
न च तद्वचनेनैषां प्रतिपत्ति: सुनिश्चिता ।
असृष्ट्वापि ह्यसौ बूयादात्मैश्वर्य प्रकाशनात् ॥ ६०॥ यदि प्रागप्यसौतस्मादर्थादा सीनतेन सः । सम्बद्ध इति तस्यान्यस्तदर्थोऽन्यप्ररोचना ॥ ६२॥
i.e. Veda can not be trusted because they are work of God who may have mentioned creation to glorify himself. The stanzas, which have mentioned creation, are mere poetry by poets in praise of their own Gods.
Kathopanisad (2-3-1) mentions:
ऊर्ध्वमूलोऽवाक्शाख एषोऽश्वत्थः सनातनः 1
i.e. The universe is eternal.