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 271

The Concept of Matter in Jaina Philosophy
by the natural process form the three classes of Matter from .the point of view of transformation. Matters which have been transformed by beings on receiving them are called prayogaparinata (organic matter) and matter which have been transformed by the action of beings, but now being given up by the action of them, (they) are themselves undergoing transformation by the natural process, are stated to be miśrapariņatapudgala. That is, matter in which there takes place simultaneously a transformation by the action of the being and by the innate nature is called miśrapariņatapudgala. Matter in which there occurs a transformation by its own innate nature or in the transformation of which there is no help of any being, is called visrasapariṇatapudgala (inorganic matter).
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These three classes of Matter have been divided into many sub-classes from various points of view. For example, there are stated to be five kinds of prayoga-pariṇatapudgala, viz. ekendriya-prayogapariṇata-, dvfndriya-prayoga-parinata-, trindriya-prayoga-parinata-, caturindriya-prayoga-pariņata- and
pañcendriya-prayoga-pariņata-pudgalas.
Ekendriya-prayoga
pariņata-pudgalas are of five kinds, viz. pṛthivīkāyikaprayoga pariṇata-pudgala, ap-kāyika-prayoga-parinata-pudgala, taijasa
kayika-prayoga-pariņata-pudgala, vayukayika-prayoga-pariņatapudgala, and vanaspatikayika-prayoga-pariņata-pudgala. That is to say, matters transformed by the actions of onesensed earth-bodied, water-bodied, fire-bodied-, air-bodied- and plant-bodied -beings respectively. They are again sub-divided into two main groups, viz. sükṣma (fine) and badara (gross) so on. Miśra-pariņata-pudgala are of five kinds, viz. ekendriya miśra-pariņata-pudgala up to pañcendriya-miśra-pariņatapudgala. They are again subdivided into many kinds up to ayata-samsthana-pariṇata-pudgalas.1
Visrasa-pariņata-pudgala is of five kinds, viz. varṇaparinata, gandhapariņata, rasapariṇata, sparśapariņata and samsthanaparinata. They are again sub-divided into many groups
1. BhS., 8. I. 311.