Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 590

Sec. 1]
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SŪTRA
565
pudgalastikaya, such as, poggala or paramaņupoggala (atom),
etc.1
The word 'poggala' (Skt. pudgala) is formed of two terms 'pud' and 'gala', the first one denotes to combine, while the second signifies to dissociate. According to the commentary of Śrī Abhayadeva Sūri the word pudgala, stands for matter which is subject to intergration and disintergration of bodies, etc. involving the process of transformation."
So pudgala is a corporeal non-living eternal and fixed (or permanent) substance of the Universe, having five colours, five tastes, two smells and eight touches." It is infinite (substances) from the point of view of substance, equal to the extent of the Universe from the standpoint of space, eternal from that of time and endowed with colour, taste and touch from that of condition and with the attribute of reception from that of quality.*
Matter causes the receiving (i.e. formation) of five kinds of bodies, viz. gross physical body upto Karmana body, five senseorgans, viz. ear upto skin, three kinds of activities (mental, vocal and bodily) and breathing in and out, because the characteristic of receiving is inherent in it.
"Veuvviya-āhārae......gahaṇaṁ pavattati ......gahanalakkhane nam poggalatthikaye."
Nature of Matter
Matter is heavy-cum-light (guruya-lahue) with regard to heavy-cum light substances and neither-heavy nor light with regard to substances which are neither heavy nor light (aguruyalahuya).
It
It is endowed with parts (or points i.e. sapradeśa) and is partless also (apradesa) from the point of view of substance. is infinite from those of space, time and condition respectively," as being co-extensive with space.*
1 Bhs, 20, 2, 665. Ib, 13,4,481.
37b, 2, 10, 118. Ib, 1,9,73.
4 Ib, 2, 10, 118. " Ib, 5,8,221. 8 Ib, 2,10,119.