Universal Message of Lord Mahavira

Author(s): Dulichand Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 67

Mahāvīra: The Great Wanderer 57 (bhāva) light (of intelligence) is gone, let us make an illumination with the external (dravya) light (of matter)” (Kalpasūtra, 127).
References :
According to Jainism, the whole universe is brought under the two eternal and co-existing categories of spirit (Jiva) and non-spirit (Ajīva). Ajīva is of five kinds: Matter (Pudgala), medium of motion (Dharma), medium of rest (Adharma), space (Akāśa), and time (Kāla). Dharma and Adharma have a special meaning in Jainism as
the conditions of motion and rest. ? C.D. Sharma in his book, A Critical Survey of Indian Philosophy
writes: “The Jainas believe in 24 Tirtharkaras or 'Founders of the Faith' through whom their faith has come down from fabulous antiquity. Mahāvīra, the last of the twenty-four Tirthankaras cannot be regarded as the founder of Jainism because even before him, Jaina teachings were existent. But Mahāvīra gave a new orientation to that faith and therefore modern Jainism may be rightly regarded as a result of his teachings.”
The Jaina theory of knowledge includes five degrees of knowledge that lead to omniscience. All the five are mentioned in this article as attained by Mahāvīra during specific contexts.
4 The universe is described in Jainism as an eternal cycle of Yugas,
further sub-divided into 6 periods.
Bhagavati, Aupapātika, Trisastiśalākāpurusa, and Harivarsa Puräna.