Jain Journal 1972 04

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 18

156
die and are born again. So long as they do not attain salvation, they have to bear the agonies of birth, decay and death. The sansari or mundane jivas have been divided into five categories according to the number of the senses they possess, such as ekendriyas, dvīndriyas, trīndriyas, caturindriyas and pañcendriyas.
JAIN JOURNAL
Creatures that have only one sense, the sense of touch, and no other are called ekendriyas. They are also called sthāvaras, because they are devoid of the power of locomotion. The sthavara jīvas are again divided into five classes. (1) Pṛthvīkāyas, i.e., clay, stone, metal, etc., (2) Apkäyas, i.e., water, dew, snow, etc., (3) Agnikäyas, i.e., fire, burning coal, etc., (4) Vayukāyas, i.e., air, storm, whirlwind, etc., and (5) Vanaspatikāyas, i.e., trees, creepers, herbs etc. Earth, stones, etc., all kinds of water, all kinds of fire, all kinds of air, and all kinds of trees, etc. in their natural states, are jivas embodied in earth, water, fire, air and vegetation.
The other four kinds of jivas from dvīndriyas to pañcendriyas are called trasa, because they are endowed with the power of locomotion. The dvindriya jivas, such as worms, leeches, etc, have two senses, the sense of touch and the sense of taste. The trindriya jivas, such as ants, lice, etc, have the sense of smell along with the above-mentioned two senses. Caturindriya jivas, such as bees, drones, etc. have the sense of sight along with the above-mentioned three. Pañcendriya jivas, such as men, beasts, birds, gods and the beings of hell, have the sense of hearing in addition to the other four. According to the Jaina scriptures, there are seven hells. Those who commit gross sins enter into hell after their death and have to undergo unimaginable sufferings. There are many kinds of gods living in different heavens or svargas. Some of them possess more strength, happiness, influence and lustre than the others, particularly the gods of the anuttara vimāna excel all others in these attributes. The gods live so long that they are usually considered as immortal, though in point of fact, no gods are really immortal. The iivas comprising the first four categories have no mind, so they are called amanaska. Gods, beings of hell, men, beasts, birds, etc. possess the mind and are, therefore, called samanaska jivas, though their mental development is not of the same order.
Ajiva (Non-soul):
The second principle is ajiva. The ajiva possesses characteristics which are contrary to those of the jivas, that is to say, it is devoid of