________________
314
Reals in the Jaina Metaphysics Arhat is otherwise called the Tirthankara; because through his instructions he makes the Tīrtha (landing steps) for all beings who are afraid of the Sāṁsāra. He is called the Tirthankara, also because he addressed the Tirtha or the congregation of the four orders viz:--the monks (Sādhu), the nuns (Aryikā), the householders men (Śrāvaka) and the householders, women (Srāvikā). The Arhat is so called because the gods with their lords offer him Arhā or worship with great pomp and ceremony at the times (1) when he enters the mother's womb, (2) when he is born, (3) when he renounces the world, (4) when he attains omniscience and (5) when he attains final emancipation. Although he has not the least concern for his body, the body in which he dwells is perfectly pure and is brilliant like a combination of one thousand suns; it is free from seven constituents: (Dhātu's), and is devoid of the eighteen faults (Dosa's) e.g. sweat etc. The Tīrthankara is possessed of the four Atiśaya's or Excellences viz: (1) Apāyāpagama,--He is not touched by grief etc. (2) Jñāna,-He is the knower of all phenomena of the world, (3) Pūjā,-He is worshipped by all beings and (4) Vaçana, ---His instructions are sweet, efficacious and intelligible to all. The Arhat is thus the visible God himself; thirty-four uncommon phenomena (Vāibhava's) are found with him.
Then, when the four Aghātiya Karma's are destroyed as well, the already omniscient soul leaves off this miserable prison of the Samsāra or mundane existence where the Karma reigns with an iron hand and goes to the Siddha-śilā, the ever-peaceful abode of the Perfect Beings at the summit of the worldly space. This is the final Emancipation of the soul. Absolutely free from the dirt of Karma, the Perfected soul exists in its own pure state,-possessed of its eight essential attributes (Avyābādha etc.) which will be described hereafter.
NATURE OF EMANCIPATION, ACCORDING TO THE VARIOUS SCHOOLS
The Jaina doctrine of Emancipation may be shortly
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org