Agam 15 Upang 04 Pragnapana Sutra Part 02

Author(s): Shyamacharya, Punyavijay, Dalsukh Malvania, Amrutlal Bhojak
Publisher: Mahavir Jain Vidyalay

Page 379

...[350]...
CHAPTER XVII
COLOUR-INDEXES TO TEMPERAMENT (LEŚYĀ)1
This chapter is devoted to the exposition of lesya (colourindexes to temperament). It contains six sections (uddeśas). There is no system governing the arrangement and order of these sections. First section contains one leśyādvāra among other dvaras. This seems to be the reason why the entire discussion occurring in this first section has been included in the chapter on lesya. This chapter makes it clear that some prakaranas (topical discussions) contained in Prajñāpanā might have traditionally come down to Arya Syāmācārya who seems to have simply collected and compiled them in their original form. This is corroborated by the chapter on spoken language (ch. XI).
Satkhandagama includes leśya in the list of 14 märgaṇāsthānas (points-of-investigations). Hence it is but natural that its discussion should occur at various places in Saṭkhaṇḍāgama (Book I, pp. 132, 136, etc.; Book III, p. 459 etc.; Book IV, p. 290 etc.; etc.).
The first section discusses food, body, breathing, karma, colour, colour-index to temperament, emotional experience (vedanā), activity and life-span of the living beings belonging to 24 different classes. Thus here we are shown that there is no uniformity among living beings regarding these items. And here we are told as to what the cause of this variety is (1124-1155). From this whole discussion we gather the following interesting information. The bigger the body an infernal being possesses the more quantity of food it takes (1124). Again, the earlier is the birth, the less quantity of karmas it has (1125). Moreover, the earlier is the birth, purer are its colour and colour-index to temperament (1126-27). Sañjni infernal beings suffer great or intense misery whereas asañjñi infernal beings suffer miseries of low intensity (1128).2 The activities performed by an infernal being possessed of right faith are less than those performed by the one devoid of it (1129). And the life-spans of different infernal beings are not uniform (1130).
1. For the detailed information about the leśya-speculation available in Jaina Agama and Karma literature as also in Non-Jaina works one may refer to Lesyakoşa edited by Mohan Lal Banthia and Shrichand Choradia, Calcutta, 1966. For the interpretation of the term 'lesya' one may consult Schubring: Doctrine of the Jainas: p. 195.
2. The fact that the infernal beings are here divided into two classes, viz. sañjni and asañjni suggests that this chapter has been written in the period of time when these two terms had still not acquired the final technical sense. This is the reason why Ac. Malayagiri has to give many alternative explanations of these two terms while commenting on them.