Number of Souls

Author(s): Pravin K Shah
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee

Page 3

However Avyavahar rashi Nigod souls are those souls that so far have not had a chance to come out of the Nigod state. Also, only one of them (from infinite x infinite souls) will come out when one soul attains liberation. It is not dependent on the exhaustion of their karma. It is a chance or probability or predestination. We all are fortunate that we had that chance and we all came out from the Avyavahar_rashi Nigod category and have progressed to the stage where liberation is possible. We need to put forth maximum effort that we do not go back to the Nigod category. Summary: Following is the summary of the number of souls that exist in various categories: 1. Liberated (Siddha) souls - Infinite 2. Vyavahar_rashi or Samsari or worldly souls - Constant a. Human beings - Finite (Maximum number is 10E29 in the entire Jain universe) b. Vyavahar_rashi Pratyeka Souls - Innumerable c. Vyavahar_rashi Nigod Souls - Infinite 3. Avyavahar_rashi Nigod souls - Infinite x Infinite. No new souls are created and no existing souls are destroyed or merged with another soul. Every soul is unique individual and exists forever. They were not created and cannot be destroyed by any means. The journey of every soul began from the Avyavahar_rashi Nigod souls and will travel through Vyavahar_rashi Nigod Souls to Vyavahar_rashi Pratyeka Souls to Humans and ultimately to Liberation. Pravin K. Shah Chairperson - Jaina Education Committee 919-859-4994