Collected Research Papers in Prakrit and Jainology Vol 02

Author(s): Nalini Joshi
Publisher: University of Pune

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As a noun : As an adjective: As an adverb:
an animal, a lower animal, a bird broad, in a slanting position or direction obliquely, horizontally, transversely
In the etymology of tiryanca, the slanting or horizontal position is underlined. If all kinds of insects, birds, animals and birds are covered under tiryancas, one cannot explain their oblique or slanting position satisfactorily.
In Prakrit, the word tiryanca is noted as 'tiria', 'tirianca', 'tirikkha', 'tiriccha' or 'tericcha'. psm. gives five meanings - Adjective : (i) crooked, bent, oblique, curved ; (ii) a being born in the gati other than
deva, manusya and nāraka. Noun: (i) the region of mortals, middle region ; (ii) middle ; (iii) crooked gait.
Since the existence of tiryancas is found in Madhyaloka, Jainas might have named them as tiryancas.
According to Tattvārtha 4.28, 3114414702: tel: This sūtra identifies subhumans (tiryanca) as all life distinct from the gods and infernals (born by descent - i.e. upapāta) and humans. We find the explanation of the word in Dhavalā, likewise :
'तिरियं ति कुडिलभावं सुवियडसण्णा णिगिट्ठमण्णाणा ।
अच्चंतपावबहुला तम्हा तेरिच्छया णाम ।।
The author here emphasizes the crookedness, the powerful expression of four famous instincts and abundance of sins in tiryancas.
Tattvārtha-rājavārtika had not mentioned the 'crookedness' but shows the subsidiary position of tiryancas due to which man makes them work for him. It is mentioned that a being
becomes tiryanca due to its vicious Karmas.
In Hindu tradition Sāmkhya, Yājñavalkyasmrti and Mahābhārata mention tiryañcas as
*mūdha' and 'tāmasa', i.e. foolish and ignorant." Jaina commentators emphasize on their crookedness, meanness and deceitfulness with the help of the etymology of the word.
Actually, from the Jaina perspective we cannot brand them with such adjectives. These vices are actually the reasons or causes of acquiring tiryanca gati.
The Relevant Points to Understand the World of Tiryancas
(1) Tiryancayoni or tiryancagati
In Vedic or Hindu thought, generally we find three yonis or gatis viz. Deva, Manusya and
Tiryanca.12 Narakayoni or Narakagati is not enumerated separately as the realm of birth except in
the text like Yatīndromatadīpika." In Jaina thought, we find four yonis or gatis uniformly. We do not find any hesitation or difference of opinion about the number of gatis.
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