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Ātmabodha (Alocanā) of Padmanandi
197
speech and bliss. 54 Padmanandi borrows the word Brahman of the Upanişads and uses it in the sense of the highest Reality which is indeter minate and bliss (17). We are told in the Upanisad that, Atman is neither male, nor female, por neuter. 85 It is self-luminous consciousness. There is neither duality nor plurality of the self, but every personal self and impersonal Brabman are one and the same, 30 Padmanandi, also describes it in similar maoner (17, 18, 29). He also seems to be influenced by the Bhakti school of Ramānuja Vedānta, Centemporary environment is not favourable to practise this code of conduct. Thus, Padmanandi lays more stress an devotion, almost of the theistic pattern. It seems that the Upanişadic spirit is imbued by our author, even though details are set in the religious and metaphysical framework of Jainism. We can also judge from this work that the author is more inward than out-ward in his religious approach. Though small in size, this work is undoubtedly a verry good contribution to religo-philosophical literature of the Jainas.
34. Katha Upanisad-II VI-12. 35. Svetāívatara Upanişad-V-10. 36 (a) Katha Upanişad-II-IV-11,
(b) Mándūkya Upanişad-11 (c) Běhadāraṇyaka Upanişad-II-V-19,11.
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