Lord Mahavira and His Times

SR No.: 011080
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Kailashchandra Jain
Publisher: Motilal Banarasidas
Publication Year: 1974
Total Pages: 427
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

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Lord Mahavira and His Times
of karmic effects upon it and how these effects are got rid off and the liberation of the soul is obtained. The categories are as follows : (1) Jiva (soul), (2) Ajīva (inanimate things), (3) Bandha (the binding of the soul by Karma), (4) Punya (merit), (5) Papa (demerit), (6) Aśrava (that which causes the soul to be affected by sins), (7) Samvara (the prevention of Aśrava by watchfulness), (8) Nirjarā (the annihilation of Karma), and (9) Moksha (final deliverance). He who verily believes in the true teaching of the above nine fundamental truths possesses righteousness.1
As corollaries to these terms, the theory of the categories came to include two other groups of terms.2 The Pañcâstikājas (five substances) comprehending and characterizing the world of existence are : (1) Dharma (medium of motion), Adharma (medium of rest), Ākāśa (space), Jiva (soul) and Pudgala (matter). The three terms of substance (Dravya), qualities (Guna) and Paryāya (Development) comprehend and characterize the five Astikāyas.
The first pair of terms, Jiva and Ajíva, comprehends the world of existence as known and experienced. The Jiva signifies all that has life while Ajīva indicates those that are without life. The world of life is represented by six classes of living things and beings, three of which are immovable and three movable. Earth-lives, water-lives, and plants are immovable beings, while movable beings include all fire-lives, wind-lives, and those with an organic body. Living things are either subtle or gross, and living beings are either those still belonging to Samsāra or those whose souls are perfected. Through the gradation of living things and beings, one can trace the evolution of the senses. The lowest form of being is provided with only one sense, the sense of touch,3
It is only in relation to the six classes of beings that the process of Karma sets in and the nature of man's conduct is determined. “Know and understand," taught Mahāvīra, “that they all desire happiness; by hurting these beings, men do harm
1. Uttarā, XXVIII, 14 & 15. 2. Ibid, 5 & 7. 3. Ibid., XXXVI, Sülra, 1, 7, 1.