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## The Twelve Bodies: The Twelfth Body - The Five Types of Bodies
**601. How many types of bodies are there, Master?**
**[901 A.]** Gautam, there are five types of bodies. They are:
1. **Audārika** (Physical Body)
2. **Vaikriya** (Transformational Body)
3. **Āhāraka** (Nourishment Body)
4. **Tejas** (Radiant Body)
5. **Karma** (Karmic Body)
**Explanation of the Five Types of Bodies:**
This sūtra (901) describes the five types of bodies, namely Audārika, etc., as established in Jain doctrine.
**Body** refers to that which is constantly decaying and deteriorating from the moment of its creation.
**Explanation of the Audārika Body:**
The word Audārika is derived from Udāra. The commentator has given three meanings for Udāra:
1. **Udāra** means **principal**. The Audārika body is considered principal in comparison to the bodies of Tirthankaras and Ganadharas. This is because, apart from the Audārika body, all other bodies, even those of the gods in the Uttara Vimāna, are devoid of infinite qualities.
2. **Udāra** means **extensive** or **vast**. The Audārika body is naturally extensive, measuring approximately one thousand yojanas in length. The Vaikriya body, however, does not have such a natural extent. Its maximum extent is five hundred dhanus, and that too only in the seventh hellish earth, not elsewhere. The Uttara Vaikriya body, which can be up to one lakh yojanas in length, is not naturally extensive because it is not permanent throughout the cycle of births and deaths.
3. According to the theoretical definition, **Udāra** means a body composed of flesh, bones, nerves, etc. This Udāra is called Audārika.
**Explanation of the Vaikriya Body:**
1. The Sanskrit equivalent of the Prakrit word **Veunviya** is **Vaikurvika**. The word Vaikurvika is derived from the root **Vikurv**, meaning **to perform various actions**. It refers to a body capable of performing various actions.
2. Alternatively, it refers to **various** or **specific** (unique) actions and reactions. The body that performs actions is called Vaikriya.
**Explanation of the Āhāraka, Tejas, and Karma Bodies:**
The body that is manifested by the power of yoga when a fourteen-fold-equipped monk performs an action is called the **Āhāraka body**.