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RELIGION & CULTURE OF THE JAINS
devotee to visualise the highly subtle and abstract qualities they represent. The Arhat (Jina or Tirthankara) on the other hand, is the direct and immediate benefactor.
Though no less a God than a siddha, in so far as spiritual perfection is concerned, he is a living embodiment of the Ideal. The story of his life, struggle and achievement and the corporeal and concrete existence he has had, are easy to visualise, understand, remember and dwell upon. He serves as a brilliant beacon to attract the seeker, inspire devotion and confidence in him, warm him of the dangers of worldly existence, guide him and enlighten his Path. And, his images can be easily made and installed to act as standing reminders and substitutes for purposes of formal worship and ritualistic performances.
The last three categories of the Worshipful Ones comprise the true ascetic aspirants. The acaryas are master ascetics who head and govern the congregation, and guide the members in the due observance of self-discipline, austerities and rules of right conduct. The Upadhyayas are ascetic teachers who are engaged principally in learning and teaching the scriptures. The sadhus are the remaining ascetic seekers who rigidly follow the rules of right conduct and are an example of selfess devotion and dedication to the Path. The three together represent the true gurus, religious preceptors and spiritual guides, hence are adorable and objects of vereration and worship.
The sastra (agama or scriptures), containing the knowledge of the truth, as expounded by the omniscient Jina, is also adorable and an object of worship. The Deva, represented by the arhats and siddhas, the guru, represented by the three classes of the ascetic teachers, and the śastra, the repository of spiritual knowledge, are thus the three principal objects of a Jaina's daily worship, which he performs, usually in the temple, early in the morning, before starting his life's routine.
There are numerous gods and goddesses, celestial or heavenly beings, ghosts and spirits, both angelic and satanic. They are
