Jain Journal 2004 07

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

Page 24

RAJJANKUMAR: LIFESCIENCEANDJAINISM
force by which jiva having taken particles of mind, transforms them by the mental process and give vent to them as the mental force, i.e. thought's.
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It is considered that this paryāpti is not a single substance, but it varies considerably from organism to organism (i.e. one sense to five sensed jiva), among the various parts of a single animal or plant. There are six paryaptis, but they share certain fundamental physical and chemical characteristics19. Jiva, which has a fully developed vital force is called paryāptaka and those which do not have a fully developed vital-force in any form are called aparyāptaka.
Modern Biology explains them on the basis of lack of system growth, whereas Jainism defines the very concept of modern biology. It conceives that it has happened owing to jiva's own karma. The Jainas say that however the gaining of the capacities of vital-force of the jiva starts simultaneously, but the completion (of each of them) is effected gradually within the period of one antarmuhurta, which increases in the case of each succeeding one. Yet their total period does not exceed one antarmuhurta. In modern biology, it is granted as a combined process of metamorphosis, physiology as well as process of cell-division which a jiva has processed during its physical development and life-sustain.
Prāṇa, life-force and Jainism
To the Jains, every jīva consists of prāņas. Prāņas are life-force and are ten in numbers20 viz-five indriyaprāņas (life-force of five senses), Ucchavāsaprāṇas (life-force of respiration), āyuprāṇa (lifeforce of length of life,) manovāka and kāyaprāņas (life-force of mind, speech and body). Out of the above ten prāņas, every jīva must have four prāņas at minimum stage whereas the maximum number of prānas which a jīva has is ten. Prana is considered as the activity of jiva.
According to Jainism, in this universe there are jivas which have one sense organ only and are also found well-developed jiva which have five sense organs. Regarding prāṇas it is elucidated that onesensed jiva possesses four kinds of prāṇas viz. sense of touch, length of life, physical body and respiration. Two sensed jīvas have six