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JAINA PSYCHOLOGY
fernal beings, as a rule, belong to the third sex. They also appear, just like the gods, through a direct manifestation of their bodies which are transformable in nature. They are either fully developed or undeveloped. As regards conduct, they are not in a fit position to practise self-control. The denizens of hell are of seven kinds according to the seven hells. The following are the hells: Ratnaprabhā, sarkarā-prabhā, Vālukā-prabhā, Parka-prabhā, Dhūmaprabhā, Tamaḥ-prabhā, and Mahā-tamah-prabhā.4 They exist in the successively descending regions of the earth. The denizens of the seventh hell are the most miserable beings; those of the sixth are less miserable than them; those of the fifth are still less miserable and so on. Their attitude corresponds to the sinfulness of their activity. The inhabitants of the first three hells are sometimes tortured by the gods of the lowest class. Generally, the hellish beings torment each other in their own regions. Their reincarnation is possible only in the form of developed five-sensed animals and human beings. This is a brief account of the Jaina conception of the various states of existence and different classes of beings that are entirely based upon the operation of different kinds of karmas. It is true and we ought to admit that the general features of this account are somewhat logical and rational, whereas its detailed description is purely dogmatic and traditional in character.
1 Tattvārtha-sútra, II, 50. 2 Ibid., II, 47. 3 Paryāptāparabhedena......
Loka-prakāśa, IX, 2. 4 Ibid., IX, I. 5 Tattvārtha-sūtra, III, 3-5. 6 Loka-prakāśa, IX, II.
