________________
46
THE WAY OF LIFE
The helplessness caused by sorrows in hell and the helplessness caused by happiness in heaven
All the gods are not equal. The gods living in the Adholoka or the nether world beneath this world are called Vyanthar-Vanavyanthar and Bhavanapathis. The gods dwelling in Urdhvaloka or the higher world are called Vaimanikdevas. One above the other, there are twelve heavenly worlds and above them, there is a heavenly world called Navagraiveyak (nine heavens) and above that heavenly world there is another heavenly world called Panch anuttar. In our ancient granthas, we get such an authentic, realistic and detailed description of Devalokas that when we read that description, we feel convinced that the heavenly worlds do exist. The duration of the life of the devas, the structure of their bodies, their stature, their abilities, their abodes, the contacts between gods and goddesses, the structure of their abodes, their pillars, their numbers and their forms and hundreds of such details are mentioned in the form of exact figures. Such detailed and accurate descriptions could not have been given if the heavenly worlds did not exist. We can reach the heavenly worlds by means of Dharma. In other words, dharma can confer upon us heaven and heavenly life. The heavenly worlds abound in physical and sensual enjoyments. In that world, there are no sorrows of life and there is no fear of death. There are no diseases or despairs. The Devas are not born like human beings. The gods need not exist in the wombs of their mothers like human beings and animals. There is what is called the flowery bed. The atma assumes the form of a god on that bed. In that world, there is neither childhood nor old age; neither infancy nor senility. There, life is eternal and youthful. In that world, there is no need to earn money. They get all their enjoyments ready-made. The gods and goddesses experience and enjoy endless physical delights. Some gods and goddesses who possess the right knowledge and the right vision do not approve of physical delights. They believe that physical delights are perilous. Yet they cannot renounce those physical enjoyments. This is the condition of the Devas. The inhabitants of Hell cannot get deliverance from sorrows and the inhabitants of Heaven cannot get deliverance from joys.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
