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enth one ha
of celestis; But this
to the seventh hell. That is, among the classes of infernal beings, that class of the infernal beings that inhabit the lowest hell (i. e. the seventh hell) has the lowest numerical strength. In other words, among different hells the seventh one has the lowest number of infernal beings. But this order is reversed in regard to the classes of celestial beings inhabiting different celestial regions of Urdhvaloka. In Urdhvaloka the numerical strength of the celestial beings inhabiting the lowest celestial region called Saudharma is the highest and it decreases as we go higher and higher with the result that the highest celestial region called Anuttara has the lowest number of celestial beings. The numerical strength of Bhavanavast celestial beings is even more than that of those inhabiting Saudharma celestial region. It is so because the former is situated below Manusyaloka which in turn is situated below Saudharma celestial region. Vyantaradevas, though inhabiting the region higher than that the Bhavanaväsī devas inhibit, are more in number than the latter. Again, the Jyotiskadevas, though inhabiting the region higher than that Vyantaradevas inhabit, are more in number than the latter.
Among all the classes of living beings the class constituted by human beings has the lowest numerical strength, that is, it has the lowest number of living beings. This is the reason why the birth in this class is considered to be very difficult to attain. Again, more the number of sense-organs possessed by living beings, less is their numerical strength. In other words, undeveloped living beings are more in number than the developed ones. The living beings that have already attained liberation in the infinite past are less in number than one-sensed beings. The number of all the transmigratory living beings taken together is more than that of those who have attained liberation. This is the reason why the world (loka) will never be empty of the transmigratory living beings. The other reason of its not becoming devoid of transmigratory living beings is that numbers of living beings constituting different classes are never variable but ever constant; in other words, they are eternal.
The living beings inhabiting the lowest hell and the highest heaven are lowest in number among the living beings inhabiting different hells and different heavens respectively. This suggests that it is very difficult to be either the most virtuous or the most vicious. According to the recognised Jaina view of evolution (of living beings), the lowest stage of evolution is that of onesensed beings. From this stage the evolution starts and gradually progresses.
P. 18
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