Jain Dharm Me Bhakti Ka Sthan - Book Summary

Here is a comprehensive summary in English of the Jain text "Jain Dharm me Bhakti ka Sthan" by Sagarmal Jain:

This book explores the place of devotion (Bhakti) within Jainism, emphasizing that while devotional practices like praise and chanting are present, they serve a specific purpose and differ significantly from devotional paths in other religions.

Key Points:

Praise as a Duty and Practice: According to Jainism, every spiritual aspirant has a duty to praise the Tirthankaras (enlightened beings). This praise is akin to the chanting or name remembrance found in devotional paths of other religions. Through praise, the aspirant aims to destroy ego and cultivate affection for virtues.
No Expectation of Favors: Crucially, Jainism emphasizes that while Tirthankaras and Siddhas (liberated souls) are ideals to be praised, the aspirant does not expect any tangible benefits or boons from them. Jainism firmly believes that Tirthankaras and Siddhas cannot grant anything. They cannot ferry individuals across the ocean of worldly existence or help with other material achievements.
Inspiration and Self-Realization: Despite the lack of expectation for external help, praise keeps the aspirant's faith in the qualities of the Tirthankaras alive. Their great ideals become a vivid presence before the aspirant. By remembering the ideals of the Tirthankaras in their heart, aspirants generate a sense of spiritual completeness within themselves. They realize that their own soul, as a spiritual essence, is the same as the soul of the Tirthankaras. If they strive diligently, they too can become like them.
Emphasis on Self-Effort: Unlike some other religions where divine figures declare, "Worship me, and I will free you from all sins," Jainism does not hold this view. While Lord Mahavir did state, "I am the protector from fear," the fundamental Jain belief is that an individual's spiritual development or downfall is solely due to their own efforts. Merely praying to God for liberation without striving for self-purification from sin is considered entirely futile in Jainism. Such uncritical prayers, the text argues, have made humanity weak, dependent, and submissive. The belief in a savior who, pleased by praise, will liberate one from sin severely undermines the validity of ethical conduct.
Tirthankaras as Guiding Lights: Jain thinkers firmly believe that liberation is not achieved merely by praising Tirthankaras; it requires personal practice. Tirthankaras are like lighthouses on the path of spiritual practice. Just as a ship cannot reach the other shore without moving, even in the presence of a lighthouse, mere name remembrance or devotion cannot grant nirvana unless the aspirant makes genuine efforts.
Critique of Passive Devotion: The text quotes the Vishnu Purana, which states that those who abandon their duties and merely chant the names of God are actually enemies and sinners of God, as God himself took birth to protect dharma. Similarly, the Bible is quoted stating that not everyone who calls out "Jesus, Jesus" will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of the Father. Lord Mahavir himself is quoted as saying that he who practices his commandments is the true worshipper, not he who merely remembers his name.
True Devotion as Self-Knowledge: The ultimate goal of devotion in the Jain tradition is the realization of one's own true nature, recognizing the divine within. Acharya Kundakunda, in his "Niyamsar," defines true devotion for both householders and ascetics as being endowed with right knowledge and conduct, and moving towards liberation. Praising the assemblies of liberated beings is practical devotion, but true devotion is engaging the soul on the path to moksha (liberation). It is described as uniting with the pure soul essence by abandoning attachment, aversion, and all distractions. All Tirthankaras, including Rishabhanatha, attained the highest state through this type of devotion. Therefore, devotion or praise is essentially self-knowledge.
The Power of Example and Inspiration: The text clarifies that praising God is not futile in Jain practice. Jain practice acknowledges that praising God awakens the dormant inner consciousness and presents a living picture of the ideal of practice. It also inspires the aspirant to achieve that ideal. Jain thinkers accept that through the praise of God, an individual can achieve spiritual growth, although the effort is their own, the lives of those great beings serve as a necessary inspiration. The "Uttaradhyayan Sutra" states that praise leads to the refinement of one's vision, making it right, and consequently, the aspirant can progress towards spiritual development. While the decay of accumulated karma may result from devotion, the reason is not divine grace but the purification of the individual's perspective.
The Name of God and Inner Strength: Jain Acharya Bhadrabahu clearly states that the destruction of masses of sins occurs through the remembrance of God's name. Acharya Vinayachandra, praising God, states that the power of God's name can destroy even mountain-sized sins. However, this effect is attributed not to the name of God itself but to the aspirant's own inner strength. Just as thieves flee when the owner wakes up, so too, by meditating on God's true form, self-consciousness or inner power is realized, and sins, like thieves, flee.

In essence, "Jain Dharm me Bhakti ka Sthan" asserts that while devotion and praise are integral to Jain practice, they are tools for self-improvement and the realization of one's innate potential. The focus remains on individual effort, self-reliance, and the attainment of spiritual enlightenment through one's own actions and understanding, with the Tirthankaras serving as inspirational guides rather than bestowers of favors.