Studies in Jainism

Author(s): Ramkrishna Mission Institute of Culture Culcutta
Publisher: Ramkrishna Mission Institute of Culture Culcutta

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STUDIES IN JAINISM
self-aggrandizement or self-praise; and must whole-heartedly devote themselves to the propagation of dharma.
Next in rank to the acarya-parameṣthin comes the upadhyāya-parameṣṭhin, who has no authority to initiate people into the jina-dharma or to organize the Jaina sangha (organization). His whole function is to popularize the jinadharma, in order to help the souls entangled in samsara to reach perfection. He educates and instructs the people.
Next in order are sadhu-parameṣthins, the great souls who do not have any definite function, either of authority or of instruction, but still illustrate through their conduct the path to salvation, so that others, following their example, may accept the dharma and adopt the path of self-discipline and self-realization.
These five constitute the pañca-parameṣṭhins-the five kinds of persons worshipped by the Jains as representing the ideal in life at the different stages of realization.
THE AGAMAS OR SCRIPTURES
The Agamas or the scriptures of the Jains are revealed by the Sarvajña, or the omniscient Being. The Jaina scriptures should not be in conflict with the well-known pramāņas, the criteria of correct knowledge. They must be capable of leading men towards higher goals, to svarga and mokṣa, must give correct information as to the nature of reality, and must describe the four puruṣārthas (ends of human life): dharma (religious merit), artha (wealth), kāma (enjoyment), and mokṣa. The Agamas with such characteristics, revealed by the Sarvajña, have been handed down from generation to generation by a succession of teachers called gaṇadharas, beginning with Sudharman, the chief disciple of the Tirthankara Vardhamana Mahavira. They are known by the following appellations: the Siddhanta, Paramāgama, Kṛtānta, Veda, Śruti, Śāstra, etc.