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Buddhism and Jainism pp 400–401Cite as

Divya-dhvani

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Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Indian Religions ((EIR))

Synonyms

Divine sound; Root language

Definition

Divya-dhvani refers to the special communication of a tīrthaṅkara after obtaining omniscience.

Aspect of Omniscience

Divya-dhvani derives from √divya (meaning divine, heavenly, supernatural, wondrous, magical) and √dhvani (meaning sound, noise, echo, voice, tone, tune, thunder, allusion, hint). This divine sound is a distinct attribute of a tīrthaṅkara, or liberated Jain teacher, who has achieved kevala-jñāna, or omniscience, meaning the simultaneous perception of everything in the universe.

At the moment of omniscience, a tīrthaṅkara, also called a Jina or kevalin, who has overcome bodily and mental limitations and whose conduct in previous lives enables the gift of divine sound, obtains the miraculous power of divya-dhvani ([4], p. 260). The sound manifests artha, the full meaning of the Jina’s teaching, and is thought to be the origin of Jain canonical texts, or sūtras ([4], p. 42).

The Character of Divya-dhvani: Diverging...

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References

  1. Cort J (2010) Framing the Jina: narratives of icons and idols in Jain history. Oxford University Press, New York

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  2. Dundas (1996) Jain attitudes toward the Sanskrit language. In: Houben J (ed) Ideology and status of Sanskrit: contributions to the history of the Sanskrit language. Brill, New York

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  3. Jaini P (2001) The Jaina path of purification. Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi

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  4. Kabay P (2013) Interpreting the Divyadhvani: on why the Digambara sect is right about Kevalin. Philos East West 63(2):176–193

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  5. Owen L (2006) Depicting a Jain assembly: representations of the Samavasaraṇa at Ellora. Jinamañjari 35(1):44–60

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  6. Titze K (2001) Jainism: a pictorial guide to the religion of non-violence. Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Claremont School of Theology, 1325 North College Avenue, Claremont, CA, 91711, USA

    Brianne Donaldson

Authors
  1. Brianne Donaldson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Brianne Donaldson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Delhi, Department of Buddhist Studies, Delhi, India

    K. T. S. Sarao

  2. Elizabethtown College, Department of Religious Studies, Elizabethtown, USA

    Jeffery D. Long

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Donaldson, B. (2017). Divya-dhvani. In: Sarao, K.T.S., Long, J.D. (eds) Buddhism and Jainism. Encyclopedia of Indian Religions. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-0852-2_635

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