Jaina Ontology

Author(s): K K Dixit
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 68

THE AGE OF ĀGAMAS
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(vi) The chapter 34th (viz, Pravicāraṇāpada) is chiefly meant to convey information about the sexual behaviour of the living beings in general and gods in particular. But the discussion is largely rambling.
(vii) The chapter 11th (viz. Bhāṣāpada) contains miscellaneous information about language but towards the end details are laid down in order to bring out that speech is physical in nature. Many of the things said here are identical with those said in the chapter on feeding-thus emphasising that speaking and feeding are two essentially identical activities. Interesting in this connection is a formula which describes the general behaviour of the physical-particles-of-the-form-of-speech when they are being received by a being; this formula is old and of a very wide use as is evident from its extremely frequent occurrence in Bhagavats and on all possible occasions - that is, on all those occasions where the process of receiving physical particles in any form whatsoever is under description. In any case, in the present chapter we are told how one, when preparing oneself for speech, receives physical-particles-of-the-form-of-speech and how one, when actually speaking, expels these particles out.
(viii) The chapter 6th (viz. Vyutkrāntipada) contains information about births and deaths taking place in the different classes of living beings. Thus in connection with each of these classes we are here given the minimum and maximum periods during which no birth takes place, again the minimum and maximum periods during which no death takes place. Then we are given the minimum and maximum numbers for beings that can simultaneously be born in one class, again the minimum and maximum numbers for beings that can simultaneously die in it. Similarly, we are told about each class of living beings as to what possible classes a member of it could have belonged to in the previous birth, again as to what possi. ble classes a member of it can belong to in the next birth.
(ix) The chapter 18th (viz. Kayasthitipada) lays down the minimum and maximum periods for which one can continuously belong to a particular class of living beings. In this chapter – just as in the chapter 3rd (viz. Alpabahutyapada) - the enquiry is conducted not only in terms of the 24 well recognized classes of living beings but also in terms of the classes yielded by 20 mārganāsthānas. And just like that earlier enquiry this too was possibly a later interpolation.
(x) The chapter 28th (Antakriyāpada) first of all tells us as to the members of which classes of living beings can possibly attain mokşa in their next birth (one must be born as a human being in order to attain mokṣa in one's this very life); then we are given the minimum and maximum numbers for such members belonging to the classes in question. Again,