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Part I. Origin
The twenty-fourth and the last Tirthankara of our halfcycle of time, Lord Mahavira, is the best-known and most popular leader with devotees today who lived, according to the most widely accepted tradition, from 599 to 527 B.C. He was the elder contemporary of the Buddha and Buddhist texts give evidence of his life. He was the greatest reformer, introducing many new ideas, including the fifth vow of celibacy. As a great philosopher he laid the foundation of the Jaina Logic with concept of nonabsolutism (syad vada), that a statement can have different meanings when approached from different directions.
The Holy Pentad is the central theme of faith in Jainism, enjoining veneration and adoration to five most auspicious beings; these are:
1. Arihant (enlightened one), 2. Siddha (liberated one), 3. Acharya (monastic leader), 4. Upadhyaya (monastic teacher) and 5. Sadhu (monk).
ARIHANT: Arihant means the conqueror of inner enemies, which are the passions and more. He is the most distinguished ultimate omniscient lord with a supernatural body, known for his pious life. He is the god among men. This state is reached after the four destructive psychic forces (karmas) are annihilated.
SIDDHA: Siddha is a perfect soul who is liberated from the cycle of transmigration of successions of births and deaths (sansar). He is the Perfect Godhead with absolute knowledge. He is pure soul, without a body. This state is reached by annihilating all the 8 karmas.
ACHARYA: An ordained monk of the highest order, a pontiff, a leader of congregation, a monk who possesses right faith, knowledge and conduct, the three spiritual
