Answer

In Jain Dharma, the question of whether someone can attain keval-jñān in the present era is understood differently across Jain traditions, mainly because of differences in how they interpret the present cosmic time-cycle and scriptural tradition.

Broadly:

• Digambar tradition generally holds that in the present era of Bharat Kṣetra, no one can attain keval-jñān.
• Śvetāmbara Mūrtipūjak tradition also generally accepts that keval-jñān does not occur in the present fifth era in our region.
• Sthānakavāsī and Terāpanth Śvetāmbara traditions similarly do not usually accept claims of present-day keval-jñān.
• Some modern or non-mainstream Jain groups may speak of highly advanced saints in exalted terms, but mainstream Jain traditions are very cautious about accepting any claim of actual keval-jñān today.

Explanation

In Jain cosmology, time moves through ascending and descending cycles. We are currently understood to be in the fifth era, called duṣamā kāl, in Bharat Kṣetra.

Mainstream Jain traditions generally teach that this era is spiritually weaker than earlier periods. Because of this, the highest attainments such as:

• keval-jñān — omniscience,
• mokṣa — final liberation from this region in the present era,
• and the appearance of a Tīrthaṅkar

are not expected in the present time in our region.

The difference is not usually about the greatness of Jain saints. Jain traditions deeply revere monks, nuns, ācāryas, upādhyāyas, and spiritually advanced practitioners. The difference is about whether the tradition accepts the specific claim that a person has destroyed all knowledge-obscuring karmas and attained omniscience.

How the traditions treat such a belief

• Traditional caution: Most Jain traditions would treat such a claim very carefully and would not accept it without scriptural support.
• Doctrinal disagreement: If a group claims that someone has attained keval-jñān in the present era, other traditions may see this as inconsistent with their understanding of Jain cosmology.
• Respect for saints remains: Even if a tradition does not accept someone as a kevalī, it may still respect that person as a learned or spiritually elevated teacher, depending on conduct and teaching.
• Risk of exaggeration: Jain Dharma places great importance on truthfulness, so declaring someone to be omniscient without accepted basis is treated as a serious matter.

Spiritual Understanding

In Jain Dharma, keval-jñān is not simply great wisdom or deep meditation. It is perfect, infinite knowledge that arises only after complete destruction of the knowledge-obscuring karmas.

Therefore, Jain traditions avoid using the term casually. A saint may be deeply pure, learned, disciplined, and inspiring, but that is still different from being a kevalī.

The traditional attitude is:

• revere genuine spiritual discipline,
• avoid false claims,
• follow the path taught by the Tīrthaṅkars,
• and remain humble about what cannot be verified.

Takeaway

Belief in present-era keval-jñān is generally not accepted by mainstream Jain traditions in our region. Different Jain traditions may phrase the matter differently, but they commonly treat such claims with great caution, because keval-jñān is the highest state of omniscience and cannot be assumed merely from devotion or admiration.