ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 04

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

Page 205

1.3 Positive Entity The question arises whether Aj va is only a negative form of j va or it is a positive entity. Jainas emphasize that Aj va is a positive entity also because dravyas have their characteristic qualities. Pudgala is nitya or eternal and avasthita or immutable.
1. Eternal means: Pudgala does not give up its general and the specific nature. 2. Immutable means: while retaining own nature, not to assume a nature that belongs
to some other dravya.
Therefore Pudgala shall remain pudgala always. It shows that universe will remain everlasting due to the permanent presence of J va and Aj va.
Limitation in existence In addition to their characteristics qualities, there is a universal law that Jva (soul) can never change to Aj va (non-living) and Aj va can never change to J va (living).
1.4 Characteristic modes Schubring, an eminent German Indologist has mentioned that among all inanimate fundamental realities, pudgala alone is palpable because it has four qualities, namely:
Touch cold, hot, rough, smooth, light, heavy, soft and hard Taste acid, sweet, sour, bitter and astringent Smell fragrant, foul Color black, blue, red, yellow and white
Due to these qualities pudgala can be experienced through senses; that is through touch, taste, smell, sight and hearing. It addition to these quality pudgala has a form. Jainas have used the technical words rupa, murta / concrete for the word, form of the pudgala. We find an interesting discussion in this connection. All pudgala are said to be possessed of rupa and here rupa literally means colour but Jains have described rupa as form also.
The change in magnitude and intensity of various essential attributes of pudgala causes the evolution of certain other secondary qualities. They are: sound, binding, grossness, configuration, splitting, darkness, subtleness, shadow, hot radiation and cold radiation.
2. Other Indian Philosophies: The term pudgala has been employed by other Indian Philosophies. The Buddhists imply pudgala to mean J va, that is, conscious. It is just opposite to Jaina concept of pudgala. And in the systems like Vai e ika, Ny ya, S nkhya, pudgala is known by the names like pradh na, parm u and prakriti. The Jaina philosopher does not believe in class distinction of atoms like earth, air, fire and water as the Vai e ika philosopher does. The atoms are homogeneous and give rise to different species of matter like earth, air etc. on account of the manifestation and cessation of qualities. They have proposed as follows:
Earth touch, taste, smell, color, Water touch, taste, color Fire touch, color
Air
Touch
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STUDY NOTES version 4.0