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Philosophy
121
Jīva
Jiva is a chetan entity. It is endowed with consciousness, the essential characteristics of which are perception and knowledge. It is imperceptible and its existence is realised through its characteristic qualities in a material body.Jivas are of two kinds : (i) mundane (saṁsāri or baddha) and. (ii) liberated (mukta). Mundane jīvas are always in association with bodies and are subjected to the cycle of death and birth. The liberated jīvas are free from embodiment. They live in the state of perfection in the highest quarter of the universe.
The jīvas are infinite in number and they retain their individual entity. The jīvas are active agents and cause their own actions and in turn enjoy their fruits. They are endowed with intelligence which may be obscured but never destroyed. Thus, a jīva is actor, enjoyer and knower.
The mundane jīvas are divided in several categories on the basis of their number of sense organs. They are : 1. Ekendriya Jivas : The ekendriya jīvas are endowed with only touch sense organ. They are of five kinds according as their bodies are made up of earth, water, fire, air and vegetable substance. The first four, Prithvikāya, Jalakāya, Agnikāya and Vãyukāya are subtle forms of life while the fifth i.e. Vanaspatikāya is gross in form. They are elementary life forms.
2. Dvindriya Jivas : They have only two sense organs of touch and taste such as worms etc.
3. Trindriya Jivas : They have three sense organs of touch, taste and smell such as ants etc. 4. Chaturendriya Jivas : They have four sense organs of touch, taste, smell and seeing such as bees etc.
