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Mahavira & Concept of Transmigration / 103.
9.
Five Kinds of Bodies
Jainism accepts five kinds of bodies namely audarika, vaikriya, aharaka, taijasa and karmena. Audarika : the physical body of all men and women. Vaikriya : this kind of body is attained only by the gods and infernal creatures which can change into various forms according to their will. It is imperceptible to common man. Aharaka : It is acquired only by the great ascetics. It is projected by the advanced munis in order to get clarification of the doubt. Or for solving questions by a visit to their teachers. Taijasa : It is constituted by fine molecules, It works for the consummation and digestion of food. Karınana : It is made of fine molecules of karmic particles which engulf the essential nature of the self. Jaina process of transmigration can be understood only with reference to the above five bodies.
