Kevala jñāna or Keval gyāna means omniscience in Jainism and is roughly translated as complete understanding or supreme wisdom
Kevala jnana is believed to be an intrinsic quality of all souls
This quality is masked by karmic particles that surround the soul
Every soul has the potential to obtain omniscience by shedding off these karmic particles
Jain scriptures speak of twelve stages through which the soul achieves this goal
A soul who has attained kevala jnana is called a kevalin (केवलिन्)
According to the Jains, only kevalins can comprehend objects in all aspects and manifestations; others are only capable of partial knowledge
The views of two sects of Jainism, Digambara and Śvētāmbara Jains differ on the subject of kevalins
According to Digambaras, a kevalin does not experience hunger or thirst, whereas according to Svetambaras, a kevalin has normal human needs and he travels and preaches too
Digambara Jains believe that they do not act in the normal sense of the word, that they sit motionless in padmasana, and that their bodies emit Divyadhvani, a sacred sound which is interpreted by their followers as the fundamental truth
According to both traditions, the last kevalin was a disciple of one of the eleven chief disciples of the last tirthankara, Mahāvīra; his name is recorded as Jambuswami
It is also believed that no one after Jambuswami will have the ability to obtain kevala jnana