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I am the Soul
233 created by the Omniscient in view, one has to proceed with the help of the Agamas. What do the Agamas say? What is in their store? What is their purpose? Without understanding these matters, one who grasps only the broad aspects, and carries the impression that he has become learned, is a Matarthi.
From the Shastras we learn of the Deva, manushya, tiryancha and naraki life forms (ca. Hayes, farefas, from afa) and their various classifications, variations and so on. The 198 types of devas, the 303 types of manushyas, the 48 types of tiryanchas and 14 types of narakis, thus in all 563 types have been mentioned. Why! Not just that, but the analysis of the relation of all these jivas with karma, bandha, udaya, udirana and satta (7F, , 364, 3CRUIT, TT). The minutest details in these have been mentioned. Many people learn all these details by heart. They keep repeating them. Some of them have 500 - 700 verses by heart and they keep splitting the hair over the the most dimunitive matter. Even when they enter into a discussion with somebody, it is the same; they get down to the same questions of how many dandaks, avaghenas, sharir etc., in which jiva and so on. They repeatedly harp upon these same questions, but why the Agamas carry these descriptions, what is the essence of the same, is all beyond them.
Having heard the description of the life-forms, and believing the Deva-gati to be superior, they dream of going there. One cannot go there with this body, but they think they could atleast become devas after death. If we ask them, “Brother! Why are you planning to go to the devaloka?”, they say, “Look! One has to go somewhere or the other after death. Here one cannot be immortal and Moksa is yet so far. Therefore, if we go where there is unlimited wealth, could we not enjoy it? For here we haven't got the wealth, and if we have, then it cannot be enjoyed in this short life, one has to leave it here and go away. However long one's life may be, it is difficult to enjoy all the wealth. But
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