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three innumerable sub-classes is again divided into minimum, intermediate and maximum. The infinite is also divided first into three sub-classes : low-grade, self raised and infinite-infinite and then first two sub-classes are further divided as minimum, intermediate and maximum while third sub-class, infinite-infinite, is minimum and intermediate only, there is no maximum in the case of infiniteinfinite. The chart no.1 from that which is is of a help to have a overview of Jaina way of classification of numbers.
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Chart 1 Classification of Numbers in Jainism
The classification given in the chart-1 does not stop here, each of them is again divided into three kinds; minimum, intermediate and maximum except numberable. Thus from this classification the minimum number is (countable) 'sankhyā', jaganya sankhyāta, (Minimum Numerable) which has been valued as 'two'. Digambara and Swetāmbara texts differ in the classification of numbers. The Swetāmbara texts such as Thāņam the classes of numbers are as follows:
kati - 2 to numerable akati - innumerable to Infinite avaktavya - one
Here kati refers to Numbers, akati refers to beyond numbers, avaktavya connotes not being a sankhyā, as "one' is not a sankhyā, one is avaktavya.
The Digambaras classify the numbers as follows krti - 3 and more nokrti - one avaktavya - two
With all these differences, there is yet a general concept acceped in the tradition that, states that minimum countable number is two and 0 is not a number and infinite is relative in nature. 1. Why Minimum Counting Starts From 2 ?
One is not a (countable) 'sankhyā', this is a common concept in jaina text. As sankhyā means to count. The counting starts from 2. Thus the minimum number remains 2, As seen in Anuyogadārāim and Lokaprakāśa the reason given for this varies from text to text. The Anuyogadārāim text argues that 1 is number but not in the category of counting. That is to say it is not a countable number because it is not practically counted in day to day life. Lokaprakāśa on
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Arhat Vacana, 24 (1), 2012
