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CHAPTER VII
PARINĀMAVĀDA IN THE AGAMAS
*Introductory
The Agamas, as already said above, do not contain any systematic exposition of the Jain doctrines but a detailed descriptive account of them in a desultory manner. So, it shall be our task, here, to gather from the Agamas such references as have a bearing on Pariņāma and related matter. But, as Pariņāma being a concept of reality is closely related to other metaphysical ideas, it is necessary to study it in relation to general Jain metaphysics. We shall have to keep close to this approach throughout the discussion of Pariņāma, even in later works. Otherwise we would miss the different bearings of Pariņāma on different aspects of reality. So, first I give below a general scheme of metaphysics as is found in the Agamas.
1
Jain Metaphysics
The Davvas (Dravyas)
The universe (Loga) is said to be constituted of the five Atthikayas, viz., Dhammatthikãe (Principle of Motion), Ahammatthikae (Principle of Rest), Agasatthikae (Space), Jivatthikãe (Soul), Poggalatthikae1 (Matter). These are classed under two kinds of substances viz. Jivadavvas and Ajivadavvas. Of the four Ajîvadavvas, Poggalatthikae is rūvi (i.e. possessed of colour, taste,
' किमयं भंते लोएत्ति पवृच्चइ ?"
'गोयमा ! पंचत्थिकाया, एस णं एवतिए लोएत्ति पबुच्चइ, तं जहा - धम्मत्थिकाए अहमत्किाए जाव पोग्गलत्थिकाए ।' Bh. Su. 13.4.481
cf. also 2.10.117, 7.10-Pannavana and Tha Su. 1.251.
