Contemporary Heretical Creeds : ( Mahavira's Classification )

Summary

The article presents an overview of Mahavira's classification of contemporary heretical creeds during his time, organizing them into four major categories: 1. Kriyavada: Kriyavada consists of 180 schools that affirm the existence of the soul (jiva). These schools believe in the nine Jain principles, which include concepts like karma, soul, and the path to liberation. Key views within Kriyavada include: • Sinful actions require both sinful intent and act for karmic consequences to manifest. • Misery is self-inflicted, not caused by external forces such as fate or a creator. • Liberation is achieved through right action, even without right knowledge or faith. 2. Akriyavada: Akriyavada comprises 84 schools and denies the existence of the soul and other eternal entities. It posits that existence is momentary, and without continuity, there can be no action (kriya). • This philosophy includes the concept of Yadrccha, where outcomes are random and lack causal uniformity. Schools within Akriyavada include Ekavadins (belief in a supreme soul) and Anekavadins (belief in multiple manifestations of a supreme principle), among others. • Akriyavadins also reject the notion that actions from one moment can affect future ones, asserting that all phenomena are accidental. 3. Ajnanavada: Ajnanavada includes 67 schools and argues that knowledge is not the highest pursuit. Instead, ignorance (ajñana) is seen as more desirable, as knowledge leads to volition and further bondage. • This philosophy holds that knowledge only leads to contradictions and dissent, while ignorance, by avoiding volition, leads to liberation. • The schools assert that omniscient knowledge is unverifiable and should not be relied upon, questioning the authenticity of Mahavira's omniscience and his teachings. 4. Vinayavada: Vinayavada contains 32 schools and emphasizes the practice of reverence over the use of signs, ceremonies, and scriptures. Reverence is considered a cardinal virtue leading to perfection. • There are eight types of beings to whom reverence may be directed (god, master, ascetic, etc.), and four modes of showing reverence (body, mind, speech, gifts), leading to the creation of the 32 schools of Vinayavada. Classification Overview: The text elaborates that the total number of philosophical schools in Jain literature amounts to 363: • Kriyavada: 180 schools • Akriyavada: 84 schools • Ajnanavada: 67 schools • Vinayavada: 32 schools This classification is accepted as a standard by commentators like Silanka, Abhayadeva, Malayagiri, and Hemacandra. Key Philosophical Principles: • Kriyavada emphasizes action and volition, asserting that only when actions and thoughts combine does sin occur. • Akriyavada rejects continuity and posits randomness in existence, leading to a universe governed by chance. • Ajnanavada challenges the importance of knowledge and advocates ignorance to avoid the volitional chain that binds the soul. • Vinayavada focuses on reverence as the path to liberation, making it distinct from the more doctrinally focused systems. This classification helps to outline the diverse philosophical schools that were contemporaneous with Mahavira, reflecting a wide range of beliefs on topics like existence, knowledge, karma, and the soul.