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THE CONCEPT OF ARHAT Prof. PADMANABH S. JAINI, M.A., Tripitakācārya
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The Arihanta (Arhat) is the first of the Five Worthies cited by all Jainas in their daily salutation. Though this word is common to-day amongst the Jainas, it was very popular with all śramaņas of old. In the days of Gautama Buddha, it was common to apply this honorific term to the heads of various religious sects. All Teachers grouped under the Śramaņas used this title and severe penances were indulged in to retain it. Such a claim by others was considered by the Buddhists as a vain boast and the Buddha is reported to have often challenged this claim.
The first chapter of the Mahāvagga of the Vinayapiţaka depicts a scene of the meeting of the Buddha with an Äjivaka named Upaka. The Buddha is on his way to Sārnāth to preach his first sermon. Upaka meets him somewhere near Gayā and impressed by the charming and illustrious personality of the latter asks him about his Teacher and Religion. The Buddha declares with a force of conviction, "I am the Arhat in the world, I am the Teacher Supreme, I alone am the Fully-enlightened one, I have become Tranquil, I have attained Nirvāņa."1 These words not only reveal the supreme self-confidence of the speaker but also throw a challenge to others, who claim to be Arhats.
When the Buddha approaches the five mendicants at Sārnāth, who are reluctant to receive him, he persuades them again by a solemn declaration, “O Monks, the Tathāgata Samyak-Sambuddha is an Arhat. Open your ears, O Monks, the Immortal is known, I shall instruct you, I shall preach the law.!"2
At a subsequent meeting with the leader of the five hundred Jațilas at Uruvelā, the Buddha demonstrates many supernatural powers to win over the former. The Jațila is impressed by the powers of the Buddha but still persists in thinking: "Indeed, the great śramaņa possesses great supernatural powers but he is not an Arhat as I am". When the Buddha 1. ai fi apier # 984135
एकोम्हि सम्मा सम्बुद्धो सीतिभूतोस्मि निब्बुनो। अरहं भिक्खवे तथागतो सम्मा सम्बुद्धो । ओदहथ भिक्खवे सोतं, अमतं अधिगतं, अहं अनुसासामि, अहं
धम्म देसामि । 3. महिद्धि को खो महासमणो न त्वेव च खो अरहा यथा अहं ।
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