________________
61
Jain literature indicates that in the universe, there exist 8.4 million (84 lakhs) different forms of life based on their birth location. They are classified as follows: Seven lakhs (700,000) forms of living beings with earth as its body, Seven lakhs (700,000) forms of living beings with water as its body, Seven lakhs (700,000) forms of living beings with fire as its body, Seven lakhs (700,000) forms of living beings with air as its body, Ten lakhs (1,000,000) forms of above-ground vegetation with one soul in every independent living body, Fourteen lakhs (1,400,000) forms of below-ground vegetation with multiple souls in every independent living body, Two lakhs (200,000) forms of living beings with two sense organs, Two lakhs (200,000) forms of living beings with three sense organs, Two lakhs (200,000) forms of living beings with four sense organs, Four lakhs (400,000) forms of heavenly beings, Four lakhs (400,000) forms of living beings of hell, Four lakhs (400,000) forms of animals with five sense organs, Fourteen lakhs (1,400,000) forms of human beings, Out of eighty four lakhs (8.4 million) forms of living beings, if I may have hurt any living beings, have caused others to hurt them, encouraged others to hurt them, or praised those who hurt them, either by thoughts, words, and/or actions, I ask forgiveness for all such sinful activities. I forgive all living beings, may all living beings forgive me, I am friendly to all, I have enmity for none. In this universe, infinite numbers of birth places exist for any worldly soul for its rebirth. However the groups of birth places with similar color, odor, taste, touch and shape are considered as one type. Thus the number of birth places is counted as 8.4 million. How is the number of species determined in each type of living being?
In each kind of living beings the types of species are halved in hundred. Each specie will have 5 types of colors (black, green, red, yellow and white) Two types of odors (pleasant and foul smelling) Five types of tastes (hot, bitter, rusty, sour and sweet)
