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A SOURCE-BOOK IN JAINA PHILOSOPHY
But it may please be noted that the determination of the individual status in the family and society is not only determined by the parents or the family, but this is possible with the karma that individual has earned in this respect. The individual is himself responsible for these; and he has earned it. The family and the society are only occasion and the environ'nental factors which enable the individual to be placed in good or bad comfort, in different status in society and family by his own karma.
Nāmakarma determines the individual concerning his birth as man or gods in the heaven or in the animal kingdom. It is also connected in the formation of the types of sense-organs that he possesses and the types of bodies that he inherits like audārika, vaikriya etc. Gotra karma is also concerned with the status of the individual. Therefore, again a question is asked whether gotrakarma has anything to do with the determination of the types of sarira etc.
But gotrakarma is not directly connected in the formation of the individual bodies and the sense-organs etc. Because the higher or the lower gotra of an individual is not relevant for the possession of a particular body, short or tall, particular colours - black or brown, particular types of sense-organs like healthy sense-organs or deformities. For instance, a man born in the higher family
family may have deformities in the body, may be of dark chlour and may be also ugly. On the other hand, a man who is born in a lower family may be handsome and healthy. Therefore, gotra karma has nothing to do with the determination of the bodily forms in their various aspects. It is concerned with the status of the individuals with reference to his family and mental make up. However, nāmakarma and gotra karma are closely associated with each other regarding the formation of the indiv'dual personalities.
Another question has been raised regarding the criteria of determining the lower and the higher status of an individual in the family and in society due to the operation of the gotrakarma. The answer to this, will have to refer to the biological and social heredity. We find that physical and mental poiss of an individual as determined in society in a dignified way is largely due to the family upbring
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