________________
Mahavira & Concept of Transmigration / 97
3.
Process
At death the self is associated with taijasa and sharira (karman body). Before transmigration to new body, it remains in the form which it had in last existence for a few minutes and then it takes the shape of a new body. Jainism accepts five kinds of bodies. Audarika : the physical body of all men and animals. Vaikriya : this kind of body is attained only by the gods and infernal creatures which they 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 doubter for solving questions by a visit to their teacher. Taijasa : It is constituted by fine molecules. It works for the consummation and digestion of food etc.
Karmana : It is made of fine molecules of karmic particles which engulf the essential nature of the self. Taijasa and karmana are always attached to the self which requires the two bodies in order to get new birth. It is in these two bodies that the elements of future birth are preserved in the form of seeds. The force which leads the self to rebirth is nothing but the mixture of self and matter.
