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Veer Sagar Jain:ConveptofSoul/Self(Atmā) in Jain philosophy
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Sankuta Contracts in a small body S. Asankuta Expands to a very large body t. Kșetrajña Capable of knowing all territories in the
cosmos. u. Antarātmā Stays inside the eight matter karmas.
The above synonyms, in fact, indicate the attributes of jīva as per Jain texts..
4. Etymological development of the words jīva and ātmā and their special meanings.
Even though there are numerous synonyms of the words soul and living beings in Jain texts, the most commonly words are jīva and ātmā. Therefore we shall attempt to understand the meanings and significance of these two words specifically. Jiva in Jain literature has been described as the one who lives, lived in the past and shall live in the future namely:
pāņehiṁ caduhim jīvissadi jo hi jīvido puvvam
Daśasu prāņeșu yathopāttaprāņdparyāyena trişu kāleșu jīvanānubhavanāt jīvati, ajīvait, jīvisyati eti vā jīvaḥ,
Etymological development and meaning of the word Ātmā is said to be an entity that always manifests (transforms, changes, originates and destroys) as knowledge. Ātmā in Sanskrit is formed with the syllable ‘ata' (ata sātatyagamane) having two meanings namely to go and knowledge and both are applicable here.
5. Understanding the nature of soul by its nine attributes | characteristics.
To present a lucid description of jiva, Jain ācāryas have used
7.
a. b.
Dhavalā 1/1/1/2 Gomatasāra Jivakānda 365,366
Pravacanasāra 147
Tattvārthavārtika 1/4
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