Jain Dharm Me Bhaktiyoga - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Jain Dharm me Bhaktiyoga" by Chainsukhdas Nyayatirth, based on the provided PDF excerpts:

The book "Jain Dharm me Bhaktiyoga" by Chainsukhdas Nyayatirth explores the concept of devotion within Jainism, emphasizing its unique approach and significance.

Understanding "Bhaktiyoga":

The term "Bhaktiyoga" itself is not explicitly found in Jain scriptures, but the concept of "Bhakti" (devotion) is widely discussed.
Similar to Karma Yoga or Nishkam Karma Yoga (action without attachment to results), Bhaktiyoga is presented as a valid and logically justifiable principle.
Meaning of "Yoga": In this context, "Yoga" signifies application, the attainment of the unattainable, a means, or a tool for protection.
Meaning of "Bhakti": Bhakti is defined as pure love or affection imbued with purity of emotion. Any affection lacking this purity, especially worldly love driven by desire, cannot be considered Bhakti. True Bhakti is pure love directed towards the divine, saints, or scriptures.

The Goal and Nature of Jain Bhakti:

Self-Purification as the Ultimate Goal: The primary aim of Jain Bhakti is not personal, worldly gain but rather self-purification.
Path to Divinity: When the soul aspires to become divine (Paramatma), devotion serves as an initial, accessible, and understandable path, particularly beneficial for householders.
Cause of Auspicious Concentration (Shubh-Upayog): Bhakti fosters auspicious mental states, which lead to the accumulation of merit (punya).
Leading to Pure Concentration (Shuddha-Upayog): If devotion is performed without attachment to results (Nishkam), it can ultimately lead to pure concentration, the direct cause of liberation (Moksha).

Jainism as a Worshipper of Qualities, Not Individuals:

Jainism emphasizes the worship of qualities rather than specific individuals. While individuals are venerated, it is due to their inherent qualities.
The purpose of worshipping virtuous individuals is to acquire those very qualities for oneself.
Devotees strive to emulate the path and methods by which the revered one attained their excellent qualities.
Ancient Jain texts and the teachings of great scholars like Akalankdev and Amritchandra highlight this principle. They emphasize venerating those who have conquered desires, possess pure conduct, and are repositories of all virtues, regardless of whether they are identified as Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Buddha, or Jina.

The Role of the Divine in Jain Bhakti:

The Divine is Detached (Veetaraag): Jainism posits a divine being that is free from attachment and aversion (Raga-Dvesha). Such a being has no personal need for worship or aversion to criticism.
The Divine as an Example and Inspiration: The benefit of devotional practices arises not from the divine actively intervening due to attachment or aversion, but from the auspicious mental states (Shubh-Upayog) generated within the devotee through remembering and contemplating the divine's virtues.
The Mirror Analogy: The divine is likened to a pure, untarnished mirror. One who looks into it with a pure heart sees happiness, while one with impure intentions experiences distress. The mirror itself doesn't cause these states; it merely reflects. Similarly, the divine, being detached, doesn't directly bestow happiness or suffering. These are the results of the devotee's own mental dispositions.
Nimitta-Naimittik Sambandh (Instrumental Causality): The relationship between devotion and spiritual progress is one of instrumental causality. The divine, or their virtues, act as an indirect cause or catalyst.

Illustrative Examples:

Ekalavya: The story of Ekalavya, who became an unparalleled archer by practicing with a clay statue of Dronacharya, illustrates how devotion and mental focus on an idealized form can lead to great accomplishment, even without the direct intervention of the idol.
"Karisho'gniradhyapayati": The phrase meaning "the fire of dung is teaching" illustrates how even an inanimate object, when it serves as a necessary condition for a virtuous activity (like studying in the cold), can be considered an indirect cause of that activity. Similarly, devotion to the divine indirectly facilitates self-improvement.

Bhakti as a Preliminary Stage:

Not a Direct Cause of Liberation: Jainism acknowledges that Bhakti, while immensely valuable, is not a direct cause of liberation. This is because it can sometimes foster a sense of being a servant ("Daaso'ham"), which deviates from the ultimate goal of oneness with the divine.
Foundation for Spiritual Growth: However, Bhakti is crucial in the initial stages of spiritual practice. It attracts the mind towards the ideal, prompting the devotee to abandon negative tendencies and embrace virtues.
Enabling Progress from Ignorance to Knowledge: Bhakti facilitates the shift from vices to virtues (e.g., from violence to compassion, impatience to forgiveness). If practiced without hypocrisy, it can indeed lead towards liberation.

The Significance of Devotion in Jain Literature:

Many Jain poets have greatly emphasized the importance of devotion, sometimes even placing it above pure knowledge and conduct in certain contexts, highlighting its profound impact.
Faith-Based, Not Purely Logical: Bhakti is rooted in faith rather than pure logic. However, this does not negate the role of discernment (viveka). The distinction between the devotion of the wise and the unwise lies in the presence or absence of discernment.
Support and Sustenance: For those who cannot reach the higher stages of monasticism, devotion serves as a support and provision on the path to liberation.

The Fruit of Jain Bhakti:

Nishkam Karma: Jain scholars consider Bhakti as Nishkam Karma (action without attachment to results). Any attachment to rewards makes devotion futile.
The True Desire: The true fruit sought by a devotee is the continuation of devotion in every lifetime until liberation is achieved.
No Worldly Demands: Devotees do not ask for worldly boons but rather for continued devotion and the strength to remain focused on the divine.
Public Welfare: While personal desires are not the focus, Jain prayers often include requests for the welfare of all beings, the strength and righteousness of rulers, timely rains, the eradication of diseases, and the flourishing of the Jain dharma. This reflects a broad and benevolent outlook.

Absence of Ritualism and Emphasis on Inner Purity:

Jain Bhakti is characterized by a lack of ostentation or hypocrisy. The true essence of the divine is what is worshipped.
External attractions in Jain temples, however beautiful, are considered secondary to the inner devotion. Even bodily virtues are secondary to soul-bound virtues.

Idol Worship and Bhakti:

Distinction Between Idol Worship and Bhakti: While there's an instrumental relationship, idol worship and Bhakti are distinct. Some traditions may use idols as a means, while others do not.
Bhakti as a Mental State: Bhakti is a mental disposition that can exist independently of idols. The divine or great souls themselves are the true objects of devotion.
Historical Context: The opposition to idol worship by certain Jain sects has historical reasons and should not be mistaken for an opposition to devotion itself.

Bhakti Literature:

Jain literature is rich with devotional texts and hymns (stotras) dedicated to Tirthankaras, Panchaparameshti, and other deities.
Works like the Bhaktamara Stotra and Kalyanmandir Stotra are highly significant. These texts are recited daily by devotees for self-purification.
Each verse is often considered a mantra, and these works have a profound impact on the individual lives of Jain followers.

Synthesis of Bhakti:

Universal Appeal: Devotion holds a significant place in all religions.
Comparison with Gita: There are similarities between the devotion described in the Bhagavad Gita and Jain Bhakti, particularly in the emphasis on Nishkam Bhakti, although the nature of the worshipped entity differs.
Need for Harmony: The author suggests that the concept of devotion across different religions can be harmonized based on the Jain principle of Anekantavada (non-absolutism).

In essence, "Jain Dharm me Bhaktiyoga" posits that while the term "Bhaktiyoga" might not be explicitly Jain, the practice of pure devotion, aimed at self-purification and the emulation of virtuous qualities, is a vital and integral part of the Jain spiritual path. It serves as a powerful means to cultivate auspicious mental states, drawing the individual closer to the ideal of the soul's inherent divinity.