Jain Biology

Author(s): Jethalal S Zaveri, Mahendramuni
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

Page 86

1. Audārika-Gross body; it consists of the gross material aggregates belonging to the audarika vargaṇā (i.e., a group of material aggregates which can be perceived through sense-organs). In the mobile organisms, the constituent matter is in the form of flesh, bone, blood, skin etc. In the immobile beings (such as earth, water, fire, air and vegeta-tion), it is made of the inorganic and organic stuff.
2. Vaikriya-Protean body; it consists of the subtle material aggregates which can be made to undergo change in form at will. It is a sort of supernatural process. It can be obtained by birth as well as through special spiritual technique.
3. Āhāraka-Conveyance body; it consists of very subtle material aggregates through which the ascetic who is the possessor of such supernatural power can communicate with the omniscient souls at extraterrestrial regions.
4. Taijas-Bio-electrical or Fiery body; it consists of luminous aggregates which are very subtle. It is possessed by all living beings. Through special technique, it can be used as a supernatural power of thermoluminescence and efflugence. In normal course it is used in bioelectrical metabolic processes of life. It accompanies the soul even in transmigration.
5. Kārmaṇa-Subtlemost body; made of the karmic material aggregates which always accompany the soul even in transmigration.
In the following table, the number of bodies available in the type of living being is given and the serial numbers of the bodies out of the above five bodies which are available in the living being of that type are also mentioned. For example, in the subtle earth-bodies beings, the number of bodies available is three; they are 1-Audārika, 4-Taijas, 5Karmana.
2. AVAGĀHANĀ (i.e., EXTENSION IN SPACE (HEIGHT OR SIZE))
The soul-units spread throughout the body, the size of which is mentioned as avagāhanā. It is measured in units such as
JAIN BIOLOGY
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