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Jain philosophy is primarily **ātmavādī** (soul-centric). The **jīva** (soul) is its central point. Although Jain doctrine has recognized nine **tattvas** (principles) or seven **tattvas** by including **puṇya** (merit), **pāpa** (demerit), **prāsrava** (influx), **bandha** (bond) in one principle, all of them are merely different states of the relationship or separation of the **jīva** and **ajīva** (non-soul) **karma-dravya** (matter of karma). The purpose of describing the **ajīva** principle is to clarify the nature of the **jīva** principle and to distinguish it from its different nature. **Puṇya**, **pāpa**, **prāsrava**, **samvara** (restriction), **nirjarā** (efflux), **bandha**, and **mokṣa** (liberation) are states that arise from the union and separation of the **jīva** and **karma**. Therefore, it can be said that the root of Jain philosophy is **ātma-dravya** (soul-matter). Its beginning is **ātma-vicāra** (self-reflection) and its ultimate culmination is **mokṣa**. This **sūtra** (text) discusses the **ātma-dravya**, i.e., the **jīva**, in detail. Therefore, it is called **jīvābhigama** (approach to the soul). **Abhigama** means knowledge. That which provides knowledge of the **jīva** and **ajīva** is **jīvābhigama**. After generally mentioning the distinctions of the **ajīva** principle, the entire purpose of this **sūtra** is to focus on the **jīva** principle. The **jīva** is divided into two categories: **siddh** (liberated) and **saṁsāra-samāpannaka** (bound to the cycle of existence). Subsequently, the **sūtra** discusses the various distinctions of **saṁsāra-samāpannaka** **jīvas** in terms of nine **pratipattis** (perspectives). These nine **pratipattis** are presented from different perspectives, and therefore, despite being different, they are not contradictory and are factual. These nine **pratipattis** describe how the **jīva**, transformed by the **vibhāva** (causes) of **rāga** (attachment), **dveṣa** (aversion), etc., experiences various states, forms, births, deaths, etc., in the world. They describe the **jīvātmā** (soul) experiencing various states as **sa-sthāvara** (with a body), as **strī** (female), **puruṣa** (male), **napumsaka** (neuter), as **nārak** (hell being), **tiryañc** (animal), **manuṣya** (human), and **deva** (god), as having one sense to five senses, as having an earth body to a **trasa-kāya** (body of the **trasa**), and as experiencing birth and death in various other forms from other perspectives. The **dvi-vidha** (two-fold) **pratipatti** describes the distinctions of **jīvas** as **sa-sthāvara** through 23 **dvāras** (gates): 1) **śarīra** (body), 2) **avagāhanā** (perception), 3) **saṁhanana** (concentration), 4) **saṁsthāna** (structure), 5) **kaṣāya** (passions), 6) **saṁjñā** (consciousness), 7) **leśyāḥ** (subtle karmic tendencies), 8) **indriya** (sense organs), 9) **samudghāta** (awakening), 10) **saṁjñī-asaṁjñī** (conscious-unconscious), 11) **veda** (knowledge), 12) **paryāpti-aparyāpti** (sufficient-insufficient), 13) **dṛṣṭi** (view), 14) **darśana** (perception), 15) **jñāna** (knowledge), 16) **yoga** (concentration), 17) **upayoga** (application), 18) **prāhāra** (intake), 19) **upapāta** (occurrence), 20) **sthiti** (state), 21) **samavahata-prasamavahata** (flowing-non-flowing), 22) **cyavana** (decay), and 23) **gati-prāgati** (motion-progress). Similarly, the other **pratipattis** also describe the various distinctions of the **jīva** through different **dvāras**. The **dvāras** of **sthiti** (state), **saṁciṭaṇā** (accumulation), **antara** (difference), and **pralpa-bahutva** (few-many) are mentioned as much as possible throughout. The final **pratipatti** does not distinguish between **siddh** and **saṁsārī** (bound to the cycle of existence) but describes the distinctions of all **jīvas**. This **sūtra** describes **adholoka** (lower world), **tiryak loka** (intermediate world), and **ūrvāloka** (upper world) in the context of **nārak**, **tiryañc**, **manuṣya**, and **deva**. The description of **tiryak loka** includes the mention of islands and oceans, the mention of **karma-bhūmi** (land of karma) and **akarma-bhūmi** (land of no karma), and a detailed discussion of the geographical and cultural conditions there, which is significant from various perspectives. Thus, this **sūtra** and its subject matter provide detailed information about the **jīva**, therefore, its name **jīvābhigama** is meaningful. This **abhigama** is an important part of Jain philosophy. The original source of this **sūtra** is a **grantha** (text) of 6750 **granthānas** (units of measurement). **Ācārya** (teacher) **Malayagiri** wrote a commentary on it with 14000 **granthānas**, revealing the essence of this profound **abhigama**. The commentator, with his intellectual brilliance, has illuminated the essence of the **abhigama** for us ordinary people, benefiting us greatly. Regarding the edition, the main source of the original text of this