Gandharavada

SR No.: 006739
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Esther A Solomon
Publisher: Gujarat Vidyasabha
Publication Year: 1966
Total Pages: 400
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 18 MB

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possessed of a soul, as the characteristics of the soul are observed in them; whereas Ether is only the support or container of the soul, but is itself not possessed of a soul as it is incorporeal (1751-2).
Instances can be cited to show that characteristics of the soul are observed in earth, etc.. Trees are animate, since they, like women, have birth, old age, life, death, healing of wounds, foods, a queer fancy for things during pregnancy, sickness, cure, etc.. It can be said that this reason is inconclusive, for even inanimate things are said to be born, etc; e.g. curds are produced, live poison, dead potion of safflower (kusumbhaka); — and yet these are not animate. But it must be noted that in curds, etc. all the characteristics are not observed as in the case of human beings, hence such expressions are merely figurative in respect of curds, etc: -- as if produced, as if live, as if dead; but trees like human beings manifest all the characteristics and so they are animate. The shy plant contracts itself the moment it is touched exactly as a worm would do; creepers move to trees, etc. for support; Sami, etc. are known to have the characteristics of animate beings - sleep, waking, contraction, etc.. And it is known that Bakula, Asoka, Kurabaka, Virahaka, Campaka, Tilaka enjoy in their seasons, sound, beauty, fragrance, taste, touch respectively. This holds good of Kūşmāņdi, Bijapūraka and such other trees in respect of their pregnancy-longing. Further, trees, corals, lavaņa (salt) upala (precious stone, rock) as long as they are in their own birth-place, are not uprooted from heir source. are animate. for they are known to sprout forth, as flesh sprouts forth in piles. Mahāvīra wants to prove that earth is animate; yet he has spoken of trees first and then of earth in the form of coral, salt, rock as animate for two reasons: Trees are known as the modification of earth; secondly the characteristics of the soul are manifest to a greater degree in trees than in rocks, etc.. Earth is thus shown to be animate (1753-6).
Water is animate, for water akin to the earth springs up naturally when the earth is dug; or water of the atmosphere is animate as it forms itself into clouds and falls. Väyu without