________________
46
Jainism
from the view point of Vedāntic Ācāryas
Criticism of Dehaparimāņavāda :
Similarly, Rāmānuja rejects the Jaina view of Dehaparimāņavāda of the soul by stating that, this view is nothing but absurd. (Ffè 37457H 3A4CH 1 Śribhāsya, II.II.34). Here, his criticism is very similar to that of Śankara. According to the Jainas, the size of the soul is of the size of the body having innumerable parts. (Gastenayah GEYRAT sfa fe yani feefa: 1 (Śribhāsya, II. II.32). They also believe in rebirth. Their view about the size of the soul is unteneble, because, when a soul abiding in the body of an elephant is reborn in the next life as an ant, how can the huge dimension of an elephant find entrance into the tiny body of an ant ? The soul will not have sufficient space in an ant body. That means, only a fraction of the jīva can enter into the ant which is absurd ( Erfgent fee chatta 2446 HOT पिपीलिकाशरीरे प्रविशतोऽल्पदेशव्यापित्वेनाकात्स्न्यं प्रसज्यते । अपरिपूर्णता yhoed Śribhāsya, II.II.32).
The Jainas may say that, the soul is capable of contraction and expansion, according to the size of the body, so, there is no absurdity here. (3781 Ficharacteधर्मतयात्मनः पर्यायशद्वाभिधेयावस्थान्तरापत्या विरोधः परिहियते, इत्युच्यते । Sribhāsya, II.II.32). Even if we admit that the soul assumes a different condition through expansion and contraction, yet they will not get over the inconsistency. For the soul, would then be subject to change with all its concomitant imperfections like impermanence, modifications etc., like pot. If there is a change, it will become non-eternal, and in no way superior to
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
