Session Six

Jaina Theology

Ahimsa Paramo Dharmaha

The Jaina Ideal

Theology is mans idea of God and His
relationship to man.
God is the highest ideal that man can think
of
We stand to God as the actual does to the
ideal. It is our duty to try and rise as far as
we can towards the ideal
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What is the ideal?

The highest ideal is that which is best for
the individual and for humanity
What is best for the individual is best for
humanity
If we put forward our best, we would have
discharged our duty to mankind
The best is that which is accepted as such
universally by all humanity at all times
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God the Jaina ideal

God is the soul at its best

Freed from all that is material
Attained perfect knowledge
Faith
Power
Bliss
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Jaina Principles
Mans personality is dual material (matter) and
spiritual
Man is not perfect, but can improve
Man can and must control his material nature.
Man himself, and he alone, is responsible for all
that is good or bad in his life
There are many deities and gods, but no god
created the universe
Man can raise to godhood
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The Ascent of Man

When matter is completely subdued, the soul
attains perfection and freedom.
This state is enjoyed in 4 ways
Ananta darshana Infinite perception or faith
Ananta Jnana Infinite knowledge
Ananta Vinaya Infinite power
Ananta Sukha Infinite bliss
It is such a free and happy soul that is called
Jina (conqueror) or Tirthankara (guide)
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Jina
The individual who has destroyed raga, dwesha
Free of ignorance
Shed 4 kinds of karmas illusory (mohaniya),
knowledge-obstructing (jnana-avaraniya),
perception-obstructing (darshana-avaraniya) and
power-hindering (antaraya) is known as vitaragi
(the detached), Jina (the victorious) and Sarvajna
or Kewali (the omniscient)
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Tirtankara
The lofty person, an omniscient Arihant, who
defines, elaborates, and propagates ahimsa, satya,
brahmacharya etc.
Who establishes the four orders Sadhu, Sadhvi,
Shravaka and Shravika
Who is endowed with unique powers
He is not an avatara. The status can be attained by
penance, equanimity and meditation
He may be called God in human form
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The Free Souls

Free souls are of two kinds; siddha and arhat
Siddha-s are disembodied souls and are in nirvana.
Siddha-s are of two kinds
Tirthankara Siddha When in embodied condition, they
preached the tenets of Jainism They are 24 in number
in the current avasarpini cycle of time
Samanya Siddha Those who did not teach in their
embodied condition
Arhat (Embodied Free Souls) Those who have attained
sarvajnatva but have not yet discarded the mortal body
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Souls of Higher Spirituality

Next in the hierarchy of noble souls are
those who have attained extraordinary
spirituality
Acharya our sage Manatunga Suri
belongs to this category. An Acharya has at
least 36 guna-s
Upadhyaya teaching saint
Sadhu an ascetic
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Classes of Souls
S id d h a s
( L ib e r a t e d a n d
in N ir v a n a )
T ir t h a n k a ra S id d h a s

M undane
( E n t a n g le d
in m a t t e r)

S a a m a n y a S id d h a s

A s c e t ic s

N o n A s c e t ic s

A r h a ts

O th e rs

A c h a ry a s

U p a d hya yas

S adhus

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Acharya
An acharya must be endowed with 36
qualities. There are 5 classifications of these
gunas
Tapas (12) 6 external and 6 internal
Dharmas (10)
Avashyaka (6)
Achara (5)
Gupti (3)
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External Tapas
Anashana Not eating for a period (1)
Anavapta Eating less than what one desires (2)
Vrata pari-samkhyana pledge as to how one
receives food (3)
Rasa parityaga renounce tasteful things (4)
(especially ghee, salt, oil, curds, milk, sugar)
Vivikta shayyasana sitting or sleeping without bed
or chair (5)
Kayaklesha mortification of the body by refusing
many comforts (6)
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Internal Tapas
Prayaschitta (7)
Vinaya Zeal for right faith, right knowledge,
right conduct, proper tapas, loving and ready
obedience to superiors (8)
Vaiyapritya - sincere service and actual
attendance to old, infirm and sick sadhus (9)
Swadhyaya (10)
Vyutsarga non-attachment to the body (11)
Dhyana (12)
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Ten Dharmas - 1
Uttama-kshama Suppression of anger, ready
forgiveness (13)
Mardava Ready and sincere humility (14)
Arjava Straightforwardness (15)
Satya - truth in feeling and conduct (16)
Shoucha cleanliness of the body, mind
and intellect (17)
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Ten Dharmas 2
Samyama (18)
Samyama has to manifest in two ways (a)
restraint of senses and (b) practice of
compassion to the following
(1) lowest mineral life (2) aquatic life (3)
fire life (4) air life (5) vegetable life (6)
animal life
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Ten Dharmas - 3
Tapa (19)
Tyaga also includes gift of knowledge (20)
Akinchana Nothing is mine in the
universe (21)
Brahmacharya chastity, devoted
contemplation of the Self by the soul (22)

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Avashyaka daily duties

Saamaayika Equanimity; peaceful indifference to
worldly objects (23)
Vandana bowing to the perfect souls (24)
Stuti praising the qualities of the holy (25)
Pratikramana repentance for committed faults
(26)
Pratyaakhyana forethought and endeavor so no
faults occur in future (27)
Kayotsarga giving up attachment to the body (28)
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Achara, Gupti

Darshanachara strong and steady faith (29)

Jnanachara increase knowledge (30)
Charitraachara superb conduct and morals (31)
Tapaachara (32)
Veeryaachara increasing the power of the inner
self (33)
Gupti are of 3 kinds Restraint of the mind, body
and speech (34, 35, 36)
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Four Noteworthy Points

Catholicity of Jaina attitude: Worship of all worthy
souls irrespective of race etc
The worship is impersonal. The aggregate of
qualities (guna) is worshipped rather than an
individual
Arhat status can be attained by anyone before
dropping the mortal body
OM is the primordial sound denoting the pancha
parameshthins
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OM

OM has five sounds

a, a, aa, u, m
Arhat
Ashareera siddha
(disembodied)
Aacharya
Upadhyaya
Muni (the silent)
sadhu
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