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Chapter 13 Classification and Life Cycle of
Living Beings
The general livingness has been evaluatively defined in the previous chapter. Despite the difference of opinion regarding its earliest origin, many other canonical characteristics seem to be similar to those accepted by current scientists. Of course, they have added many new dimensions and finer details of the living units. Besides the definition, the canons and post-canonical literature has a variety of classification for proper studies of the living. Though, as Mahāprajña' says, it is very difficult to trace the order of developments in various trends of classification, still one can try to assess about their different types. Six Groupings of the Living
The first book of the Jainas - Ācārānga has two classifications (1. 2,1.9) based on the primary concept of six types of living groups. Sūtrakrtānga gives three types of such groups with modifications in each with advancing sections ( 1.7, 1. 1,9. 11 ) confirming the six groupings. Dasavalkālika? maintains six groupings but the earlier section 4 follows the first Acārānga grouping while section 8 follows its second grouping. Uttarādhyayana3 follows the first Acārānga grouping with some difference assuming air and fire bodies as mobiles like Jivābhigama. In contrast to the six grouping concept, Satkhandāgama and Mūlācārau maintain seven groupings with the addition of unembodied living beings or liberated beings. All the above groupings have been summarised in Table 1. Mūlācāra mentions that the worldly living ones are of six types only as in. canons.
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