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NandiSootra
unrelated to the area of influence, existing in an area extending to countable or uncountable yojans. When he shifts from that area it becomes ineffective.
This concludes the description of Ananugamik Avadhi-jnana.
Here kshetra means place and rebirth both. Sambandhit (related or connected) means without any blockade; without any obstacle between the subject and object. To know such a thing. Asambandhit (unrelated or disconnected) means with blockade; with an obstacle between the subject and object. To know such a thing.
VARDHAMAN AVADHI-JNANA
[064] MEANING -Question What is this Vardhaman Avadhi jnana?
Answer - When the areas of spiritual endeavour, in other words thoughts and attitudes, are active in the right direction there is an improvement in the right conduct and as aconsequence the purity of conduct increases. This purity expands the Avadhi-jnana acquired by the soul in all directions. This expanding or increasing Avadhi-jnana is known as Vardhaman Avadhi-jnana.
COMMENTARY Jain philosophy lays more stress on the purity of thoughts and attitude than the ritual practices. No matter how immaculate and correct are the ritual practices, in absence of the purity of attitude and sincerity of endeavour neither there is a development in knowledge nor an increase in purity of the soul. On the contrary with the cleansing of feelings or attitude the soul becomes purer. In other words there is a kshayopasham (suppression-cum-extinction) of the veils covering the soul followed by continued increase in knowledge.
THE MINIMAM SCOPE OF AVADHI-JNANA
[065] MEANING -The minimum scope of Avadhi-jnana is equivalent to the minimum area occupied by a three samaya (the ultimate fraction of time) old micropanag being or a dormant microorganism having intake-capacity.
COMMENTARY -Moss, fungus, mildew, etc. come under the class of panag beings. According to the Jain biology these come under thei class of nigod or dormant beings. A snow ball like cluster of micro-beings or a cluster like body having infinite number of individual micro-beings living together is called nigod beings.
There are two classes of these nigod beings - badar or gross and sukshma or tiny. Here the tiny or the micro-nigod has been cited. The micro-nigod is invisible to the naked eye. Its existence becomes apparent only in the cluster form. The life span of such beings is infinitely short. Samaya is the ultimate fraction of time, something even smaller than a nano second. A micro-nigod being reaches its minimum but full growth within three samaya. The minimal scope of Avadhi-jnana is so infinite simal.
THE MAXIMUM SCOPE OF AVADHI-JNANA
[066] MEANING -The maximum scope of Avadhi-jnana is equivalent to an area that can be occupied by all or maximum number of all types (gross and micro) of fire-bodied beings in space, without a gap, in all directions.
COMMENTARY The number of fire-bodied beings in this universe is minimum as compared to that of the other immobile beings. These are of four types - aparyapt-sukshma (micro-being that has not fully developed), paryapt-sukshma (fully developed micro-being), aparyapt-badar (gross being that has not fully developed) and paryapta-badar (fully developed gross being).
These beings are spread all over the lokakash or the inhabited universe. It is believed that the maximum number of this type of beings was during the period of Bhagavan Ajitnath.
Aagam- 44 -NandiSootra
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Compiled by- Deepratnasagar
