SIDDHA

in Jainism, one who has achieved perfection. By right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct a siddha has freed himself from the cycle of rebirths and resides in a state of perpetual bliss in the siddha-sila, at the top of the universe. The siddha and the other ascetics constitute the paca-paramesthin, the five chief divinities of the Jainas. Their figures are represented on a silver or brass tray called a siddha-cakra (saint-wheel), to which great sanctity and magical power are attributed. In the twice-yearly ceremony known as oli, the images are washed and anointed, and offerings of rice, sweetmeats, and fruit are made. In the Digambara sect the saint-wheel is called navapada (nine dignities, or nine virtues) and consists of the paca-paramesthin plus the Jina (saviour) image, temple, scriptures, and dharma-cakra (sacred wheel of the law).