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Concept of Suksma Sarira in Indian Philosophy : 57
rays. 10 The subtle body takes rebirth on the basis of Karma theory."1 Rebirth depends on the action performed in the previous life. The subtle body migrates from one body to another in successive birth. It persists as long as true knowledge does not arise. 12
The Yoga view of the subtle body is different from Samkhya concept. According to Yoga a body has a capacity to contract and expand, leave any body at death and occupy another body without intermediate relationship with subtle body (ätivähikaśarīra). But it arises a problem that if the citta can not itself leave the body and occupy another, how does it connect itself with sūkṣma śarīra at the time of the death. On this problem, Dasgupta has mentioned that "if is to be done through another body and that through another, then we are led to a vicious infinite. It is argued that the citta is connected with such a subtle body from beginingless time, then the reply is that such a subtle body has never been perceived by anyone; nor can it be regarded as indispensably necessary through inference, since the yoga view can explain the situation without the hypothesis of any such body. The citta is all pervading, and each soul is associated with a separate citta. Each citta connects itself with a particular body by virtue of the fact that its manifestations (vṛtti) are seen in that body. Thus the manifestations of the all pervading citta of a soul cease to appear in its dying body and become operative in a new body that is born."'13 On the basis of above fact, it is not necessary to accept the existence of subtle body.14
14
Vaiśeşika system of philosophy denies the role of subtle body (sükṣma śarīra) in the growth of fetus. Nyaya philosophy has not given any importance to subtle body.15 Soul transfers from one body to another body with the help of manas, which is atomic in its magnitude and it is not visualized when it leaves the gross body at the time of death. Soul is all pervading at the time of rebirth, it is connected with a particular body.16
According to Vedānta, Sükṣma śarīra is made of fine particles of elements. Bhūta Sūkṣmaih, which are also associated with five types of vayu subtle body has been regarded as the composition of the
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