Adarsh Dev Sudevnu Swarup

Here is a comprehensive summary in English of the Jain text "Adarsh Dev Sudevnu Swarup" (The Nature of the Ideal God/True God), authored by Dhirajlal Tokarshi Shah and published by Muktikamal Mohan Granthmala:

The book, "Adarsh Dev Sudevnu Swarup," is part of the "Dharmbodh Granthmala" series and aims to elucidate the true nature of God according to Jain philosophy, contrasting it with common misconceptions. The central argument of the book is that the concept of an anthropomorphic, interventionist, and all-controlling God, as prevalent in many other religions, is incompatible with rational inquiry and Jain principles.

Key Themes and Arguments:

• The Importance of Critical Examination: The book begins by emphasizing the necessity of critically examining religious beliefs, just as one would examine precious metals or valuable goods. It advocates for discerning truth from falsehood, likening it to a swan separating milk from water.
• "Satyam Shivam Sundaram" (Truth is Benevolent and Beautiful): This philosophical concept is presented as the guiding principle. The book asserts that true religious beliefs should be examined for their truthfulness, consistency, and appropriateness. Only by arriving at sound judgments can one achieve true well-being.
• Truth as the Foundation of Righteousness: Drawing from Jain scriptures, the text highlights that truth is the bedrock of righteous conduct. Those who adhere to truth are said to transcend the cycle of birth and death.
• Obstacles to Understanding Truth: The book identifies four main impediments to grasping truth: wickedness (lack of compassion), ignorance (lack of discernment), stubbornness (inflexibility), and prejudice (lack of impartiality).
• Illustrative Stories to Demonstrate Obstacles:
  • Lubdhak's Example (Wickedness): This story illustrates how a wicked and envious individual, driven by malice, plots against a virtuous person. Despite his evil intentions, his schemes fail due to the virtuous person's good karma and integrity, ultimately leading to the wicked person's downfall. This highlights how inherent wickedness prevents one from recognizing truth and justice.
  • Bhutmati's Example (Ignorance/Delusion): This narrative details a scholar blinded by infatuation and attachment to his wife, who is seduced by his student. He remains oblivious to their wrongdoing, even when confronted with evidence, due to his delusion. This shows how excessive attachment and ignorance can prevent one from seeing the truth.
  • Blind Prince's Example (Stubbornness): The story of a blind prince, tricked by his minister into wearing iron ornaments as if they were precious, exemplifies stubbornness. Despite clear sensory evidence and others' attempts to reveal the truth, he rigidly adheres to his preconceived notion, demonstrating how stubbornness prevents the acceptance of truth.
  • Subhat's Example (Prejudice/Partiality): This tale depicts an official who, after marrying a second wife, discards his first wife and son due to her machinations and his infatuation. When his beloved second wife manipulates him into believing her cooking is superior to his first wife's, he readily accepts her biased view, showcasing how prejudice distorts judgment.
• The Nature of True Inquiry: The book stresses that merely hearing or reading about doctrines is insufficient. True understanding comes from critical analysis, questioning, and testing beliefs against logic, experience, and scripture. Blind adherence or dogmatism is discouraged.
• The Jewel of Knowledge (Bodhiratna): Achieving profound insight and certainty about the true nature of reality is described as a rare and valuable jewel, far more precious than any worldly possession.
• The Significance of Samyakva (Right Faith): This refers to the correct understanding and conviction about God, Guru, and Dharma. Without Samyakva, knowledge and conduct, however extensive, cannot lead to liberation.
• Defining the Ideal God (Deva): The book refutes the notion of God as a creator, sustainer, and destroyer, or as a dispenser of happiness and sorrow. It argues that such a concept leads to moral irresponsibility and assigns negative attributes to God.
  • God as a Controller is Illogical: If God controls everything, then all actions, including evil ones, are attributed to God, making God responsible for sins. This contradicts the idea of a benevolent and just God.
  • God vs. Satan: The idea of God and Satan operating separately is also rejected, as it diminishes God's supreme authority and implies the existence of a power equal to or greater than God.
  • The World Operates by Its Own Nature: The book posits that the world functions through the inherent nature and laws of its constituent elements (like cause and effect, natural properties). God's direct intervention is deemed unnecessary and illogical.
  • The World is Eternal: The universe is considered to be without beginning or end, functioning according to its inherent principles.
  • Karma is the Basis of Happiness and Sorrow: Our experiences of pleasure and pain are a direct consequence of our own actions (karma), not divine decree.
  • Sin Cannot Be Forgiven by God: The concept of God forgiving sins is dismissed as unhelpful and an excuse for continued wrongdoing. True liberation comes from purifying oneself through virtuous actions.
  • Critique of Prayer: The book satirizes the mundane and self-serving nature of many prayers, which often reflect a misunderstanding of the divine.
  • Animal Analogy: The story of animals debating God's form highlights how limited perceptions and biases lead to flawed conceptions of the divine.
  • God as an Ideal: The true God, according to Jainism, is an Ideal Being – one who possesses all virtues and no flaws. This Ideal is exemplified by the Tirthankaras.
• Rejection of Avatars and Puranic Narratives: The book critically analyzes the concept of divine incarnations (Avatars) and the often contradictory or morally questionable stories of deities like Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva found in Hindu Puranas. It argues that these narratives do not represent an ideal divine being and are often inconsistent with pure consciousness.
  • The Tirthankara as the Ideal God: The true "Ideal God" (Adarsh Dev) is identified with the Arihants (Tirthankaras) in Jainism. These are beings who have achieved omniscience and liberation through their own efforts, free from all passions (like attachment, aversion) and flaws.
  • Characteristics of an Arihant: They are omniscient (Sarvajna), conquerors of passions (Jita-ragadi-dosha), worshipped by the beings of the three realms (Trailokyapujita), and expounders of truth (Yathasthitarthavadi).
  • The Importance of True Devotion: Devotion (Bhakti) should be directed towards these liberated souls, not towards deities with human-like flaws or the concept of a creator-god.
• The Meaning of True Devotion: True devotion lies in recognizing and emulating the virtues of the ideal beings, not in ritualistic worship without inner understanding.

In essence, "Adarsh Dev Sudevnu Swarup" is a profound philosophical treatise that encourages a rational, introspective, and ethically grounded approach to understanding the divine. It posits that liberation is not a gift from an external deity but the result of one's own spiritual endeavors, guided by the teachings of perfect souls who embody the ultimate ideal.