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      Jain Gods    (B10)                    01/19/93       JAINGODS.A01
      Complied by Pravin K. Shah,  Jain Study Center of North Carolina

                           Jain Gods
                          ------------

      Jainism believes that universe and all its substances or entities
      are eternal.  It has no beginning or end with respect to time.
      There is no need of some one to create or manage the affairs of the
      universe.  Universe in run own its own accord by its own cosmic
      laws.  Hence Jainism does not believe in God as a creator,
      survivor, and destroyer of the universe.

      However Jainism does believe in God.  When a living being destroys
      all his karmas, he possesses perfect knowledge, vision, power, and
      bliss.  He becomes omniscient and omnipotent.  This living being is
      a God of Jain religion.  Hence Jains do not believe in one God.
      Gods in Jain religion are innumerable and the number is
      continuously increasing as more living beings attain liberation.
      Every living being has a potential to become God of the Jain
      religion.

      While travelling on the path of spiritual progress, a person
      destroys all eight types of his karmas in the following sequence.

      First Mohaniya (delusion), then Jnana-varaniya (knowledge),
      Darasna-varaniya (vision), and Antaraya (natural qualities) all
      three together.

      Lastly the remaining four namely Nama (body), Ayu (life span),
      Gotra (social standing), and Vedniya (pleasure and pain of the
      body).  He then attains liberation.

      The first four karmas are called Ghati karmas because they obscure
      the natural qualities of the soul.  The last four karmas are known
      as aghati karmas because they are related to the body of the soul.
      Once a person destroys all Ghati karmas, automatically he will
      destroy all his Aghati karmas at the end of his present life.  No
      fall back can occur.

      A person who destroys all eight types of karmas is called Siddha.
      A person who destroys only four ghati karmas is called Arihanta
      (Tirthankara, Jina etc).  Both Arihantas and Siddhas are classified
      as Gods in Jainism.

      Arihanta:
      ---------
      When a person destroys his ghati karmas, he attains keval-jnana.  He
      has regained the original attributes of his soul which are perfect
      knowledge, vision, power, and bliss.  He is omniscient of the past,
      present and future forms of all entities (living and nonliving
      beings) of the universe.  He is still a human being.  He preaches
      the religion and remains in the state of blissful condition for the
      rest of his life.  He is known as an Arihant.

       Arihantas have two categories:

              Tirthankara
              Ordinary-kevali

      Tirthankara:
      -----------
      Immediately after attaining keval-jnana, if a person establishes
      the four-fold religious order of monks, nuns, sravaks (male
      laypeople), sravikas (female laypeople) is known as Tirthankara.

      He preaches the Jain philosophy, religion, ethics, etc. to his
      followers.

      Twenty-four Tirthankaras are born during this descending part of
      the time cycle (Avasarpini Kaal) of this region (Bharat Kshetra) of
      the universe.  No two Tirthankaras have lived at the same time in
      this region.  Generally a Tirthankara is born when the religion is
      at its depression state.  He revives the same philosophy and
      religion at that time.  Sometimes he gives a different form to the
      religion depending upon the time, place, and human behavior.

      ex. Lord Mahavir preached five great vows, while Lord Parshva
          preached four great vows. The vow of celibacy was included in
          the non-possession category during Parshav's time.

      Tirthankaras are also known as Jina or Nirgrantha.

      Jina means one who has conquered his inner passions like desire and
      hatred.

      Nirgrantha means one who has gotten rid of all attachments

      Ordinary-kevali
      ---------------
      The only difference between Tirthankara and ordinary-kevali is that
      the latter does not establish the religious order. He remains in
      the state of perfect blissful condition for the rest of his life
      after attaining Keval-jnan.

      In the religious scriptures the name Arihantas and Tirthankaras are
      interchangeably used because ordinary-kevalis do not play a
      significant role in the religious order.


      Siddha
      ------
      All Tirthankaras and ordinary-kevalis destroy their remaining
      Aghati karmas, and attain liberation at the end of their present
      life.  Now they are known as Siddhas.  They are totally free.  They
      do not possess body.  They are free from the birth and death cycle.
      They do not feel pleasure and pain, or joy and sorrow.  They live
      in an ever lasting blissful condition at the top of Lokakas known
      as Moksha.

      All siddhas possess the same quality of soul, and their attributes
      are same. However, they still maintain their unique identity.

      ex. Lord Mahavir's soul as a siddha has a different form than the
          soul of Lord Bahubali.

      Both Arihants (Tirthankaras and ordinary-kevalis) and Siddhas are
      considered Gods of Jain religion.



-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Q.  In the Namokar Mantra we pray to the Arihants (Tirthankara) first
      and then to the Siddhas second.  Even though the Siddhas are
      perfect souls and have destroyed both Ghati and Aghati Karmas, and
      Arihantas have destroyed only Ghati Karmas.

  A.  It is because Arihants after attaining keval-jnana (after
      destroying ghati-karmas), preach the Jain philosophy and religion.
      They explain the path of liberation and attributes of Siddhas.
      Without the help of Arihantas we would not have known Siddhas.  For
      this reason we pray Arihantas first and Siddhas second.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
      The Four-Fold order

      Monks and Nuns:
        They practice self-control and have given up all desires and
        earthly possessions become the spiritual practicers and teachers.
        They follow strictly five maha-vrats.

      Sravaks and Sravikas (Lay followers):
        They are not required to renounce the world, but are expected to
        discharge household duties by honest means and live a progressive
        pure life.  They the follow twelve vows of lay people.

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