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GOD : THE JAINA VIEW AND JAINA
RELIGIOUS IMAGES Dr. GOKUL CHANDRA JAIN*
The objective of the paper is to convey in brief the Jaina view of God and to introduce Jaina religious images in the light of the concept. It does not intend to present philosophical analysis nor to depict a complete picture of the Jaina art which developed through the ages. The paper is confined to the Jina images only.
Jainism is an ancient religion of India which inlluenced for centuries the development of human civilization and culture. It retains some primitive conceptions, and happenes to be the oldest living representative of śramana current. The religion is non-Vedic in origin and probably non-Aryan too. It is neither a revealed religion against Vedic sacrifices, nor, as held by some scholars, an off-shoot of Brahmanism or Buddhism. Jainism in its present status too is a fully developed and well-established religious system. Its philosophy rests on sound foundations, and its followers are well organised as a community.
Jainism is a religion or a way of life preached and practised by a Jina The Jina is a perfect human being, born as a human child who by his gradual efforts ultimately attains the spiritual perfectness by realising the true nature of reality in living and non living forms in the world. He is neither above nor below. The human being himself possesses the capacity of becoming a Jina The avowed aim of the Jaina religion is the perfection of man or the transformation of the individual mundane soul into the very state of Godhood. It exhorts and helps to to bring out the divinity inherent in a person through the realisation of one's spiritual capacity.1
The Jina in other words is God. This significant concept of Divinity provides freedom and friendship to all, dignity to life and equal chances to progress. The religion is open to one and the all without the consideration of caste, creed, colour or race.
Head of the Department of Prakrit and Jaināgama, Sampurna.
nand Sanskrit University, Varanasi. 1. Jain, Jyoti Prasad, "Genesis and spirit of Jain art', Jaina Art and
Architecture, Vol. 1, Bhartiya Jnanpith, New Delhi, 1974, p. 35.
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