Spiritual Enlightenment

Author(s): Yogindu Deva, A N Upadhye
Publisher: Radiant Publishers

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Spiritual Enlightenment
Apabhransha, is the first and extremely significant poetical composition in Apabhransha.? It is a work of cosmopolitan character and there is always an attempt to harness non-Jaina terminology into the service of the Jaina metaphysical conceptions. The author is a true Yogi, a devotee of the self rising above the petty sectarian biases in the spiritual domain. This work recognizes the two standpoints of viewing things, viz. vyavahara (practical) and nishchaya real or ideal). In majority of cases the subject matter is treated from the second point of view.
Yogindu was probably a follower of Vedic religion before becoming a Jain. We, therefore, find frequent mention of nonJaina deities like Shiva, Hari, Hara, Brahman, etc. Yogindu's Paramatman is described as Brahman. As a result of his grounding in Jaina concepts of Anekant, Nayavada and Syadvada, he has imbibed the spirit of intellectual tolerance, catholicity of views and broadmindedness in outlook. Accordingly, he is non-sectarian in his approach. He has. therefore, sought to reconcile and synthesize the various strands of thinking and systems of philosophy by recourse to various points of view (Nayas). His Jina is also Shiva and Buddha. Paramatman, Param-pada, Hari, Hara (Mahadev), Brahman, Buddha and Param-Prakash (Divya Jyoti), Divine or Great Light) are but different names of the same Jinadeva who is free from all attachments and passions (II. 200). He is free from the cycle of births and deaths and the miseries of the four grades of existence; and Siddha, being an embodiment of eternal happiness, infinite vision and infinite knowledge (II.202-3). In Yogasara, Yogindu considers Shiva, Shankar, Vishnu, Rudra, Buddha, Jina, Ishwara, Brahman, Ananta (Infinite), and Siddha to be all the same.?
Yogindu boldly proclaims that “appa so paramappa”, i.e. Atman is Paramatman. (II. 174) In other words, each embodied soul is potentially divine from the Dravyarthika (substance point of view). While Atman is the preliminary stage of Paramatman, the latter is the last and the highest stage of development of Atman. Yogindu's Parmatman can be