Answer

In Śvetāmbara Jain tradition, a soul attains omniscience — kevalajñāna — by destroying the obscuring karmas through right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct.

However, in ordinary spiritual practice, the guidance of a guru, ācārya, upādhyāya, or spiritually advanced teacher is considered extremely important and usually necessary for correctly understanding Dharma, discipline, vows, meditation, and conduct.

So the careful answer is:

Kevalajñāna is ultimately attained by the soul’s own purification, but Śvetāmbara Jain Dharma strongly emphasizes the indispensable value of a true teacher for guiding that purification.

Explanation

In Jainism, omniscience does not come as a gift from another person. No teacher can “give” kevalajñāna. It arises when the soul destroys the karmas that obstruct infinite knowledge and perception.

The required path is traditionally expressed through the Ratnatraya:

• Samyagdarśana — right faith
• Samyagjñāna — right knowledge
• Samyakcāritra — right conduct

A teacher helps the practitioner:

• understand the true nature of soul, karma, bondage, and liberation
• avoid wrong belief and wrong interpretation
• practice vows and restraint correctly
• progress in conduct and inner purification
• remain aligned with the teaching of the Jinas

In Śvetāmbara practice, reverence for the Pañca-Parameṣṭhī includes reverence to Ācāryas, Upādhyāyas, and Sādhus, showing how central spiritual guidance is.

Spiritual Understanding

From the Jain perspective, liberation is not dependent on grace, blessing, or intervention from a master. The soul must remove its own karmic coverings.

But without right guidance, one may easily misunderstand austerity, meditation, renunciation, or doctrine. Therefore, a true teacher is honored not as a savior, but as a guide who shows the path already taught by the Jinas.

Takeaway

A Śvetāmbara practitioner reaches omniscience through self-purification and destruction of karma, not by another person’s power. Yet, the guidance of a true guru or teacher is regarded as deeply important for walking the path correctly.