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Ans. Just as leshya has many colours, similarly, there
are in leshya, smell, relish and tactility. In the comprehension of personality, smell, taste, etc., like colour, are the principal criteria. It is said about the omniscients (Tirthankars) that
Their body has a unique appearance and smell. It is immune from disease, perspiration and defilement. Their breath smells like lotus. Their blood and flesh are white like the cow's milk.
It is apparent here that in the evolution of personality, form, taste, smell, etc. are all combined. Therefore on the basis of these elements, many imperceptible facts of life can be known.
The colour, taste, etc. of the first three leshyas are unpleasant. Therefore, these are known as malevolent or sinful leshyas. The colour, smell, and touch of the remaining three leshyas are pleasant, therefore, these are recognized as benevolent or virtuous leshyas. In the development of life these three leshyas play an important role. As leshyas become purer and more benevolent, passions decay, and in impure or malevolent leshyas, passions grow more virulent. To put it differently, wherever passions subside, leshyas are pure, and wherever passions are strong, leshyas are impure. Detailed discussion of the colour, smell and taste etc. of leshyas is found in Uttaradhyana. That would form the basis of our discussion in the next chapter.
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