Answer

In Jain Dharma, Arihants are the living enlightened beings who have destroyed the four destructive karmas and attained Keval Jnan — perfect knowledge. Their Atishaya means extraordinary spiritual magnificence or miraculous excellence that arises naturally due to their complete purity.

The importance of Arihants’ Atishaya is that it inspires faith, devotion, humility, and right understanding in seekers.

Explanation

Arihants are not considered great because of worldly power or ordinary miracles. They are supreme because they have conquered inner enemies such as:

• Anger
• Ego
• Deceit
• Greed
• Attachment and aversion

The Atishayas of Arihants show the greatness of a fully purified soul. Jain tradition describes many divine excellences connected with Arihants, such as:

• Their presence brings peace and spiritual upliftment.
• Their sermon in the Samavasaran is understood by all beings according to their own language and capacity.
• Devas, humans, and animals gather without fear or violence.
• The environment around them becomes calm and auspicious.
• Their body and speech are free from ordinary defects.

These Atishayas are signs of the Arihant’s supreme spiritual purity, not acts done for display.

Spiritual Understanding

The Atishaya of Arihants teaches us that the highest greatness is not outside power, but inner victory.

By remembering Arihants, a Jain devotee develops:

• Samyag Darshan — right faith
• Vinay — reverence
• Shanti — inner peace
• Vairagya — detachment
• Inspiration for Moksha Marg — the path of liberation

Arihants’ Atishaya reminds us that every soul has the potential to become pure, enlightened, and liberated.

Takeaway

The importance of Arihants’ Atishaya is that it reveals the glory of a soul that has conquered all passions and attained perfect knowledge. It strengthens devotion and inspires us to follow the Jain path of non-violence, self-control, purity, and liberation.