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Jaina Theory of Production of Sound and Evolution ...
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1. āhāra-intake of body-making material particles; 2. śarīra-body; 3. indriya-senses touch, taste, smell, sight and hearing; 4. śvāsocchvāsa-breathing. 5. bhāṣā-production of sound for self-expression; and, 6. manas-mind.
Standard in respect of the one-sensed beings is the first to the fourth paryāptis, sense being limited to touch only. In case of twosensed beings, it is the first to the fifth, senses being limited to touch and taste only. Three-four-and five-sensed beings develop additional senses of smell, sight and hearing respectively. The sixth component of completion-mind, capability of rational thinking remain the privilege of the humans only. A jīva may be deficient (aparyāpta) in respect of one or more components of completion. So the possibility of mute two-sensed etc. cannot be ruled out.
Next, we come to the question of transmission of language or speech. The scriptures say that as soon as the language is emitted, it assumes a Vajra-shape, i.e. the shape of the cosmos, at the extremities of which it terminates because motion is not possible in the transcosmic space. Language as sound is a sort of mechanical energy which is transmitted by compression waves at different speeds in different media like air, water and metal etc., much less than the speed of light (roughly three lakh kilometers per sec). So language or speech consisting of sound, instantly touching the extremities of the cosmos, is an impossibility. Since language or speech is said to have its origin in jīva, it is supposed to be accompanied with spiritual energy which can traverse and pervade the cosmos instantly. This supposition might be somewhat like that of the nāda-brahma, sound as the supreme spirit. Essentially language is the expression of the self. It manifests primarily as spiritual vibration which can be instantly transmitted from one jīva to another, before it is uttered in very very inefficient conventional sound. It is by means of this transmission that the Tirthankara's teachings are immediately conveyed not only to the
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