Jainattva Kya Hai

This document is a comprehensive overview of Jain philosophy and principles, presented in a question-and-answer format, compiled by Udaymuni and published by "Kalpvruksha." The book aims to explain the essence of Jainism to a modern audience, particularly the youth, in a simple and accessible manner.

Here's a summary of the key concepts covered:

Author and Purpose:

• Author: Prajnamaharshi Shri Udaymuni Ji Maharaj Saheb (worldly name: Shri Udaylal Jaroli), a highly educated individual with degrees in Commerce, Law, and Sanskrit literature, who also served as a professor and principal.
• Purpose: To illuminate the "new generation, entangled in worldly pleasures, with the divine knowledge of Lord Mahavir." The book aims to present Lord Mahavir's teachings in a simple, concise, and scripturally sound manner, making them understandable to today's logical generation.

Core Jain Principles and Concepts Explained:

1. The Namokar Mantra (Navkar): This foundational mantra is presented as the essence of 14 Purvas (ancient Jain scriptures). It is described as the destroyer of all sins and the first auspicious chant.

   • Arhants: Explained as beings who have conquered all enemies (like passion, aversion) and have manifested infinite knowledge, perception, bliss, and energy by destroying karmic obstacles. They are pure, detached, and eternally absorbed in their soul.
   • Siddhas: Those who have attained liberation (Moksha) and possess eight perfect qualities: infinite knowledge, infinite perception, infinite bliss, infinite energy, unchanging form, incorporeality, indivisibility, and eternal possession of these qualities.
   • Acharyas: Spiritual leaders who guide the path to liberation, possess virtues like non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, celibacy, and non-possession, and have conquered passions and senses.
   • Upadhyayas: Teachers who possess profound knowledge of Jain scriptures and guide others towards self-realization.
   • Sadhus/Munis: Ascetics who follow the five great vows, five samitis (careful conduct), and three guptis (restraint of mind, speech, and body), have conquered passions and senses, and are dedicated to spiritual practice.

2. Three Jewels of Jainism (Tattva Traya) for Right Faith (Samyaktva):

   • Deva (God): Arhants are the true gods, possessing supreme spiritual qualities. Worshiping any other deity for worldly desires is considered misguided.
   • Guru: Nirgranth Gurus (ascetics) who are free from worldly attachments and are on the path of liberation are the true guides. Respect for all ascetics who uphold the path is emphasized.
   • Dharma: The path of Vitaragta (freedom from passions), characterized by non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, celibacy, and non-possession, is the true dharma.

3. The Nature of Reality (Dravya, Guna, Paryaya):

   • Dravya: The fundamental substance or essence that remains eternal.
   • Guna: The inherent qualities of a substance.
   • Paryaya: The changing states or modifications of a substance. The world is composed of six eternal substances (Jiva, Ajiva, Dharma, Adharma, Akasha, Kala), each with its unique qualities and undergoing constant changes in states (Paryaya). This concept is illustrated with the example of clay forming a pot.

4. Six Substances (Dravyas) and Their Role in the Universe (Lok):

   • Dharmastikaya: Substance that aids in motion.
   • Adharmastikaya: Substance that aids in rest.
   • Akashastikaya: Space, which provides accommodation for all substances.
   • Kal: Time, which causes changes in states.
   • Pudgala: Matter, characterized by color, smell, taste, and touch, undergoing constant formation and dissolution.
   • Jiva: Soul or consciousness, possessing knowledge, perception, bliss, and energy. These six substances collectively form the eternal universe.

5. The Principle of Tri-padi (Upaad-Vyaya-Dhruvata): Every substance undergoes creation (Upaad), destruction of its previous state (Vyaya), while its core essence (Dhruvata) remains unchanged. This is exemplified by the changing states of a mango.

6. Comparative Analysis of Six Indian Philosophies (Shatdarshan): The book critically examines various Indian philosophical schools in relation to Jainism's core tenets:

   • Vedic/Vedanta: Contrasts the Jain concept of an eternal universe with the Vedic idea of a creator God. It highlights Mahavir's assertion that the soul itself has the potential to become God through self-effort and the self-governing nature of the universe.
   • Samkhya: Agrees with the eternality and purity of the soul but differs on the concept of causality for impurities. Jainism asserts that impurities arise from the soul's own actions, not just nature.
   • Buddhism: Acknowledges the concepts of cause and effect (karma) and transformation (Paryaya) but disagrees with the Buddhist denial of an eternal soul. Jainism emphasizes the continuous existence of the soul through its changing states.
   • Charvaka (Materialism): Rejects the existence of the soul, afterlife, karma, and liberation, advocating for hedonism. Jainism strongly refutes this materialistic view, emphasizing the soul's eternal nature and its impact on actions and consequences. The book criticizes the prevalence of modern materialistic and hedonistic tendencies.
   • Niyativada (Fatalism): Suggests that destiny dictates all events, negating free will. Jainism counters that while destiny (karma) plays a role, individual effort (purushartha) and conscious choices (right faith, knowledge, conduct) can mitigate or overcome adverse karmic influences.
   • Anekanta Vada (Many-sidedness): This is presented as a unique and powerful aspect of Jain philosophy, emphasizing that truth is multi-faceted. Different perspectives (Nayas) reveal different aspects of reality. This principle is crucial for resolving conflicts and disagreements.

7. The Soul (Jiva) and Non-Soul (Ajiva): A detailed explanation of the distinction between the soul (conscious, capable of knowledge and experience) and non-soul (matter, space, time, etc., which are unconscious and inert) is provided. Mistaking the non-soul (body, possessions) for the soul is the root of ignorance and suffering.

8. The Cycle of Karma and Liberation (Bandha, Ashrava, Samvara, Nirjara, Moksha):

   • Bandha (Bondage): The soul gets bound by karma due to its own actions, thoughts, and speech. The intensity of attachment and aversion determines the type and duration of bondage.
   • Ashrava (Influx of Karma): The inflow of karmic particles into the soul is caused by passions, wrong beliefs, and careless actions (Yoga).
   • Samvara (Cessation of Karma Influx): The process of stopping the influx of new karma through right faith, right knowledge, right conduct, vows, and careful practices.
   • Nirjara (Shedding of Karma): The process of eradicating existing karma through penance, meditation, and austere practices. This can happen naturally as karma ripens or actively through deliberate spiritual effort.
   • Moksha (Liberation): The ultimate goal, the state of complete freedom from all karmic bondage, resulting in the manifestation of the soul's inherent infinite knowledge, perception, bliss, and energy.

9. Eight Karmic Bodies (Karmas): The book details the various types of karma and their effects on the soul, including the four destroying (ghati) and four non-destroying (aghati) karmas.

10. The Eighteen Papas (Sins) and Seven Vices (Kuvyasana): A thorough explanation of various harmful actions and their severe consequences, emphasizing the path of righteousness and avoiding vices like hunting, drinking, meat-eating, theft, gambling, etc.

11. The Importance of Right Effort and Detachment: The book stresses that liberation is achieved through self-effort and detachment from worldly possessions, relationships, and the body, rather than relying on external deities or forces.

12. Living a Jain Life: The principles are presented in a way that can be practiced by householders as well, emphasizing moderation, non-violence in thought, word, and deed, and gradually moving towards greater spiritual discipline.

In essence, "Jainatva Kya Hai?" serves as an accessible guide to the profound philosophy of Jainism, explaining its fundamental principles, the nature of the soul, the law of karma, and the path to liberation in a way that resonates with contemporary readers.