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Divine Essence of Arhat and Tirthankara
Dr. Mukul Raj Mehta*
The word 'Arhat' generally means a holy, accomplished, a liberated sage, an illustrious, a Divinity. The 'Arhat' is one who has destroyed the enemy (ari) viz anger, deceit, delusion and aversion. Arhat is endowed with four infinite virtues viz., vision, knowledge, bliss and power (darśana, Jñāna, sukha and vīrya). He has destroyed impurity caused by ghati karmas viz., knowledge obscuring (Iñānāvarana karma), vision obscuring (darśanavarṇa karma), deluding (mohaniya karma) and energy obscuring (antarāya karma).
The word Arhat is variedly referred as Arhanta, Arihanta, Arahanta. Arhat is vītarāgi which means he is free from Räga (attachment). Arhat is jina, he who conquered on account of conquering the anger, conceit, greed and pride. He is one who has destroyed the seed of all karma. Arihanta, the annihilator of Ghātikarma is like the sun for the lotus for releasable souls (Bhavyas) existent in the universe and possess infinite knowledge and bliss.2
Arhat is the holiest saint, accomplished teacher, all knowing supreme self. He is free from mundane pleasure, pain, misery, attachment and aversion. Arhat is blessed with four fold infinities (Ananta cațuśtaya) after destroying the four ghäti karmas and it is the culmination of the faculties and energy of the soul. Arhat is supreme among yogins par excellence. Arhat though is with Aghāti karma, lives, in eternal bliss in this universe. From the transcendent point of view, an Arhat is without body; but from ordinary point of view, he possess Audārika śarīra which is very shining and glowing.
As stated in Jainendera Siddhānta Kośa Arhats are either Sāmānya Kevalins (ordinary Omniscients) or Tīrthankaras.? Ordinary Omni-scients are of two types viz., Pratyeka Buddha and * Researh Scientist 'B', Philosophy Deptt., B.H.U.
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