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specific life-span karma. This karma refers to either this birth or the other births with same form and destinity. The medical sciences refer to the current birth alone. The death is as natural a phenomena as the birth. These two are the two banks of the ocean of world. The birth process has been described quite in detail. No such details are available for death process. However, there is mention of causes and classification of death in canons. People enjoy birth but feel fear for and sorry at death. The religion teaches us to welcome death like birth with proper preparedness.
Causes of Death
Many canons refer to causes of death some in detail and some in brief. Sthānanga says there are seven causes of death. Kundakunda and Sivārya have 14-16 causes. They seem to be mostly extension and elaboration of Sthanānga. However, death by rope trap, cutting tongue, demigodal inflictions or immoral acts indicate these practices in those times. These causes are shown in Table 5. It is surprising why. Sivārya does not mention fear and sorrow as the causes of death. They are psychological causes. The difference in Kundakunda and Sivārya lists require further studies. These causes lead to shortening or cutting the life-span.
Table 5 Causes of Death in Different Canons55.
Sthānānga
Kundakunda
Sivārya 3
1
Medical Sciences in Jaina Canons : 551
2
1. Fear, Sorrow etc. 1. Fear
2. Sorrow
2. Instrumental
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3. Weapons 1. Weapons 4. Fire or overheat 2. Fire/overheat
5. Overcold
3. Overcold
6. Bloodflow
4. Smoke
5. Taking out tongue
6. Rope trap
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