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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailashsagarsuri Gyanmandir
422
Atman and Moka
Kumārila himself gives his interpretation of the 'icognisability of the soul' which is not far from that of Sabara. He says "By saying that it is "incognisable", in general —, the meaning would seem to be that it is so (incognisable) by all persons (including even the Ego himself). But the assertion of “self-luminosity" distinctly indicates its incognisability by others."!
The Mimāmsā system further believes that there are many souls, and not only one. It holds that for every person there is a separate soul. The main reason that is given for the plurality of the souls is that, there would be confusion of works and their rewards if they are not separately associated with different persons. If the souls were not many, and as the soul is the doer of actions, how can we arrange systematically the connections of works and their rewards? If the doer of actions does not remain the same as a separate person to experience the fruits of his actions, one would do good actions and instead of him, others may enjoy the good fruits of his actions. Every person must get his rightful reward, whether good or bad, accruing from his actions and hence, the need of separate souls. Kumārila and Prabhākara both admit the plurality of souls. Were there only one soul for all persons all would have been happy with the happiness of one, and all would have suffered with the sufferings of one person. All would have been liberated with the liberation of one. On the contrary, we find in actuality that
1 Bhatta Kumārila : S'lokavārtika, 143/p. 407.
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