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attributes corresponding to their bodies like varying degree of Paryäpti (bio-potential) and Präna (vitality). Worldly Jivas can be classified as immobile and mobile. Immobile Jiva Immobile means Sthävar Jiva - those that cannot move at will. They are one-sensed called Ekendriya Jiva. Ekendriya Jivas are further divided into the following five subcategories. Prithvikäya or earth bodied: Seemingly, inanimate forms of earth are actually living beings, e.g. clay, sand, metal, coral, etc. They have earthly bodies, hence the name Prithvikäya, which is derived from the Sanskrit term for earth, Prithvi. Apkäya or water bodied: Seemingly inanimate forms of different types of water are living beings, e.g. dew, fog, iceberg, rain, etc. They have water bodies, hence the name Apkäya, which is derived from the Sanskrit term for water, Ap. Teukäya or fire bodied: Seemingly inanimate forms of different types of fires are living beings, e.g. flames, blaze, lightening, forest fire, hot ash, etc. They have fire bodies, hence the name Teukäya, which is derived from the Sanskrit term for fire, Tejas or Teu. Väyukäya or air bodied: Seemingly inanimate forms of air are actually living beings e.g. wind, whirlwinds, cyclones, etc. They have gaseous bodies, hence the name Väyukäya, which is derived from the Sanskrit term for gas, Väyu. Vanaspati-käya or plant bodied: It is well known that plants grow, reproduce, etc., and are widely accepted as living beings. Trees, plants, branches, flowers, leaves, seeds, etc. are some examples of plant life. The Sanskrit term for plant is Vanaspati and therefore such Jivas are called Vanaspati-käya Jiva. A plant life can have one or more souls in a single body and, depending upon this, plant life is further divided into the following two subcategories: Pratyeka Vanaspati-käya (One soul per cell): Pratyeka means one. Such plant life has one soul in one body. Therefore, they are called Pratyeka Vanaspati-käya. Trees, plants, bushes, stem, branches, leaves, and seeds are all examples of Pratyeka Vanaspati-käya Jiva. Sädhäran Vanaspati-käya (Infinite souls per cell): Sädhäran means common. In such plant life, many souls occupy the same body making this type of plant life multi-organic. Therefore, such plant life is called Sädhäran Vanaspati-käya. Such plant life has an infinite number of souls in one body and is called "Anant-käya". Roots such as potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, and beats belong to this category. Tuber vegetation (root vegetables, Kandamul) is classified as Sädhäran Vanaspati-käya (common body plants) in Jainism. Another word for it is Nigod. There are two types of Nigods - subtle (Sukshma) Nigod and gross (Sthul) Nigod. Sukshma Nigods are all over the universe, while Sthul Nigods are at a few places. Omniscient has told us that infinite souls reside in a space equivalent to the top of a sharp needle. In such a small place, there are innumerous Nigod balls. There are innumerous layers in each Nigod ball. In each layer, there are innumerous Nigods. Each Nigod has an infinite number of souls. Mobile Jivas Mobile means Trasa Jiva - those that can move at will. They are Beindriya (two-sensed), Treindriya (three sensed), Chaurindriya (four sensed) and Panchendriya (five sensed) Jivas. Among the five sensed beings, some have minds, while others do not. These two, three, four or five sensed beings are divided into the following categories:
Two sensed beings (Beindriya Jiva): Two sensed beings have the senses of touch, and taste, e.g. shells, worms, insects, microbes in stale food, termites, etc.
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