First Steps to Jainism Part 2

Author(s): Sancheti Asso Lal, Manakmal Bhandari
Publisher: Sancheti Trust Jodhpur

Page 69

Chapter 2
The Five Bodies
Due to the Karma connection the soul, interalia, acquires or is clothed in bodies through which it carries on its activities, discharging old karma (and generally acquiring more in the process). In the chapter on Karma, while discussing Naam or Physique Determining Karma, one subdivision has been noted called Bodies or Sharir Naam Karma. These Karmas are of five types and result in the soul acquiring five types of Bodies viz., (1) Audarik (Physical), (2) The Vaikriya (Transformation), (3) the Abaraka (Translocation), (4) the Taijasa (Firey) and (5) the Karmana (Karmic). Some light is thrown on these in the discussion that follows as these are important and relevant in Jain Metaphysics as well as in the day to day experience. It may be reiterated in advance that the Bodies are found with only unliberated or worldly souls, the liberated or mukta souls are free from bodies of any type and are also known as "Ashariri" or Bodiless.
2. The five types of Bodies are described below in brief
a) The Gross Physical Body or Audarik Sharir-As the name indicates this is the type of Body which is gross or solid and which can be felt by the senses, such as eyes, which cari see it. This is the Body belonging to human beings (Manushya Gati) as well as animals and plants (Trinyanch Gati) Amongst all the five types of Bodies this has the least number of Pudgals, but it occupies the maximum space as the distribution of the Pudgals is the least subtle, Therefore, it is considered Gross or solid and is capable being broken or burnt.
(b) The subtle transformation Body or Vaikriya Sharir--This type of body is the fine invisible body occupied by Godly beings (Dev Gati) and the Denizens of Hell (Narak Gati). The occupants of such Bodies can make them invisible and also transform their shapes at will and the bodies are, therefore, also called Transformation Bodies as Vaikriya means transformation. Such bodies occupy