Jaina Philosophy Historical Outline

Author(s): Narendra Nath Bhattacharya
Publisher: Munshiram Manoharlal Publisher's Pvt Ltd New Delhi

Page 148

The Sophisticated Stage 127 of classification led to the following divisions: (1) Siddha and Samsārī (male, female, neuter), (2) Naraki (born in hell), Tiryak (lower animals), Manuşya (human beings) and Devatā (spritis, gods, demons), (3) Hell-beings, male lower animals, female lower animals, male human beings, female human beings, male demigods and female demigods, (4) The five subdivisions of the one-sensed Jivas as well as the two-sensed, three-sensed, four-sensed and five-sensed Jīvas, thus making a total of nine classes, (5) the old aforesaid five divisions of one-sensed, etc., sub divided into two groups, paryāpta and aparyāpta, thus making a total of ten classes, (6) first four orders of the sensed Jīvas, three subdivisions of the five-sensed Jivas (narakī, tiryak, manusya) and four subdivisions of the gods (bhavanapati, vyantara, jyotiska and vaimānika), making a total of eleven classes; and (7) combination of all these in different ways making a total of twelve, thirteen and fourteen classes.
Such divisions reveal a transitional stage in which we find attempts to bridge the gulf between scientific enquiries and the demands of a priori dogmatic principles. The latter, however, became more powerful overshadowing the former, and accordingly the purpose of classification was also changed. In order to substantiate the doctrine of Karma, a new-fangled principle called Leśyā was introduced as the basis of classification. By the term Leśyā is understood the different conditions produced in the Jīva by the influence of different Karma. The Leśyas are six in number, the first three of which are bad and the remaining ones are good. An individual is always a Saleśī because he is swayed by any of the three good or three bad Leśyās. Only the Siddhas are free from the influence of the Leśyās, and so they are called Aleši. In between the two there are six classes of Jivas, each of the classes being swayed respectively by the influence of black. blue, grey, red, yellow and white Leśyās. Of the three bad Lesyås. Krsna or black is worst of all. Its taste is as bitter as a nim tree and it smells like a dead cow. So far as the touch is concerned it is rougher than a saw. Jīvas under the influence of this Leśyā are of bad temper, cruel and violent. Any kind of misdeed can by performed by them. The Nila or blue Leśyā tastes more pungent than pepper. Its odour and roughness are same as those of the former. Jivas under the influence of this Leśyā become envious of others, lazy, gluttonous and wanting in modesty. They think about their own happiness and pre
Uttara, XXXVI. 171ff; SBE, XIV, pp, 206ff.