ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 02

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 53

only one space point. Out of these jīva and pudgala (and in pudgala also it is only karmic matter which is of interest in the discussions of tattvas or verities) are active and other four types of ajīva i.e. Dharma, Adharma, Akāśa and Time (Kāla) are inactive and just support the activities or interactions between jīva and karmas. Here we shall discussed only pudgala and jīva and the remaining shall be discussed in the paper on substances.
2.1 Pudgala (Matter) 'Pudgala'is a definitive word used for matter in Jainism. Matter (Pudgala) has been defined as that which undergoes modification by combination (Pud = to combine) and dissociations (Gala = to dissociate). It has rūpalform, meaning, the qualities of colour, touch, taste and smell i.e. it possesses a form (Mūrta) or defined as concrete. Matter signifies anything that is liable to fusion and fission. It is an eternal substance with regard to quantity and quality. It may increase or diminish in volume without any addition or loss of particles. All material substances are characterized by the tendency to form aggregates (Skandha) or to break up into smaller and smaller parts. The smallest part, which cannot be divided further, is the subatom (paramāņu). Compound objects of the material world including senses, mind and breath are the aggregates of atoms. Sound has been regarded not as a quality but only as a modification of matter. According to Kundakunda, matter is an entity, which can be cognized by the five-sense organs. The entire universe and its contents are perceptible due to matter only as it is the only concrete substance. Its basic or distinguishing characteristics are to join with or dissociate from other matter (of same type or different) or to be attracted to jīva and be of use to it.
Matter types which are of use to jīva are called clusters/varganās. Clusters are of eight types namely kārmaņa, luminous/electric (Tejas), gross/physical body (Audārika), protean/celestial body (Vaikriyika), conveyance body (Ahāraka), mind material (Mano-vargaņā), speech material (Bhāşa-vargaņā) and breathe material (Svāsocchvāsa-varganā). Gross bodies, protean bodies and conveyance bodies are three types of matter endowed with associability. All vargaņās are respectively used by jīva to have kārmaņa, tejas (electric), physical and protean/celestial (for hellish and heaven beings) bodies, āhāraka or knowledge body for ascetics of higher order and remaining vargaņās for mind, speech, body and breathe.
Matter exists in two states namely paramānu and aggregate/ lump. Matter is further in four classes namely: skandha (aggregate), Skandha-desa (aggregate occupying space), Skandha-pradeśa (aggregate occupying limited space) and paramānus. Lump/ Skandha is a
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