Concept of Matter in Jaina Philosophy

SR No.: 001663
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: J C Sikdar
Publisher: P V Research Institute Varanasi
Publication Year: 1987
Total Pages: 412
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Philosophy, & Physics
File Size: 23 MB

Page 222

Effects of Matter
187
VANASPATIKÄYA (VEGETATION OR
PLANT-BODY) Souls become plant-bodied by the operation of the plantbody-making nāmakarma (energy). They are classified into two groups, viz. pratyeka (one body-one soul) and sāmānya or sādhāraņa (general or common, i, e. one body, many souls). It is called pratyeka when the owner of one body is one soul. The body in which many souls exist is called sādharaña (common body). Individual (body) is sub-divided into pratisthita (host with common parasites) and apratisthita (nonhost without parasites)."
Every plant is of two kinds, viz. pratisthita and apratişthita. The pratisthita is that in which many nigoda jīvas (minute germs of life) exist besides the existence of one soul as principal in it. The apratisthita is that body where many nigoda jivas do not exist under one single principal soul. Thevegetables which grow from a root (mūla), from the shoot (agra) of a plant, from a joint (parva), from a bulb (kanda), from trunk (skandha), from seed (bija) and vegetables which have no such seed as root, etc., (i, e., sarmürcchima) have been declared (to be) individual with host bodies (pratisthita pratyeka) or without them (non-host-apratişthita), e. g. ginger, rose-plant, sugarcane, potato, wheat, grass, etc.2
NIGODASARĪRA (MINUTEST BODY)s
The nigoda-śarīras become group-souled or gross (bādara 1. Udaye du vanapphadikammassa ya jivā vanāpphaạr homti
Patteyam sāmannam paditthidiretti patteyam, GS., JIva., 185, 2. Mūlaggaporabijā khamdā taha khamdhabijābijaruha
Saṁ mūcchimā ya bhaniyā patteyānamtakāyā ya, Ibid., 186. 3. Bhs., 25. 5. 749; Jainasiddhānta-bolasamgraha, Pt. II,
pp. 19-21; Anantānāmasumatāmekasūkşmanigodbināṁ Sadhāraṇam śariram yat sa nigoda iti smộtaḥ, Lokaprakāśa, Sarga 4.33; See Jaina Jñāna Mahodadhi, pp. 33 ff; Jyvābhigama, 5. 233.