Are Jain Atheistic

By Mr. Dewan Bahadur

There is a good deal of controversy as to whether Jainism is atheistic or not. Shankaracharya and following him, many European orientalists answer the question in the affirmative. But to call the Jains atheistic is a misunderstanding. According to their view, the Karma and the Universe are unbegun, indestructible and ever existing. Whatever we do, i. e. our karma is sure to produce its results on us. God will not interfere to undo these effects even if we prayed to the utmost. That God is omniscient perpetually living and auspicious in nature, is admitted by the Jains. But that he will ever be kind to us beyond our deserts is denied by them. The Law of Karma is universally true. The soul of man elevates itself by the path of the three jewels, i. e., True Faith, Knowledge and Conduct and after attaining Nirvana or Moksha (i. e. freedom from all bondage of passions) it becomes divine. The God is not the creator, protector and destroyer of the universe. He is only the most perfect soul.

So they believe in God but differ as to his work. On this difference, they are charged with atheism. If so Shri Krishna who, in his Divine Lay say : The Lord does neither create the actor nor the actions of the world, nor does He determine what actions shall bear what fruits. This is all natural. Nor does He take anyone's merits or sins. When ignorance throws a veil on wisdom, people go astray" surely, the Divine singer of these lines must be called an atheist. So the way to consider this problem is to accept the meaning of an atheist as given Panini who defines a Nastika as "one who does not accept the truth of after-death existence" of the soul. The Jains who believe in the Swargas or heavens & the hells are to be considered as perfectly theistic. The Digambars and the Shwetambars differ as to the number of heavens but there is no doubt that there are other worlds besides this which the soul has to pass throgh before final liberation. But if the atheists are those who deny the absolute the Christians and the Brahmos will have no doubt to be styled as atheists !In fact, the Jains can under no circumstances be called Nastiks (in a derogatory sensa.)

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