What is the meaning of Arihant?

Who is called an Arihant?

• The title of Arihant is given to the One who exists in a living form. The One who is not a Siddha and the One who possesses a body along with absolute knowledge is called Arihant.
• The one who has conquered all the inner enemies of anger, pride, deceit, greed, attachment and abhorrence is called an Arihant, from the moment of total destruction of the inner enemies, to the state called KevalGnan, until final liberation. They are called God in absolute form.
• Only those who are currently present and living can be called 'Arihants'.

Introduction of Arihant Lord:

• Arihant lord is the state before moksha. The level of His knowledge is the same as that of the siddha, but there is some bondage left for Him. For example, if two men are sentenced for sixty years in prison - one is sentenced on the 1st of January, and the other on the 3rd of January. The first man has been released since his term has been completed. The other man will be released after two days but essentially can he not be regarded as a free man? Such are their levels.
• The state of the Arihant is a very elevated state indeed. No one in the universe has such atoms. The highest quality of atoms are present only in the body of a Tirthankara. What a body! What speech! What a manifest form! Everything about such a living being is absolutely unique and exquisite. There is no comparison, so do not compare Him to anyone! No one can be placed on the same level as a Tirthankara! That is how great the manifest form of a Tirthankara Lord is!
• The Arihant has a physical body and a name.
• The Arihant remains Arihant only and gives ego-less speech accepted by all (Deshna).
• If you recognize a real Arihant as Arihant, it will be to your great advantage. Otherwise all your effort will be in vain. Only the Arihant can cure the diseases of this world.
• The best benefactor is called Arihant. Arihant! They themselves conquered six enemies, show us the way to victory and bless us. So we kept them first. We consider Them as utmost benefactors.
• Arihant is Simandhar Swami, if there are nineteen other Tirthankars, the current Tirthankar is called Arihant.

Where is Arihant existing now?

Simandhar Swami is in the universe. He is the Arihant today, so pay obeisances to Him. He is still present. If one is an Arihant, only then it will give us the result. So if one says with this understanding that wherever the Arihant is present in the entire universe, I bow to Him with reverence, then it will yield wonderful results.

Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan explains to whom 'Namo Arihantanam' actually reaches when we recite it:

“When we say ‘Namo Arihantanam’, that mantra reaches the arihants, wherever they may in the universe, just like the mail that always reaches its destination. It will not reach Lord Mahavir. Presently people believe that when they say ‘Namo Arihantanam’, it reaches Lord Mahavir. The Twenty-four Tirthankars of the past are now in the fully liberated state as the siddhas. They are in the category of ‘Namo Siddhanam’. Only the currently present Tirthankars are referred to as arihants.”