Classification of Jiva
Jiva Vichar — Part 1. Types of Jiva and elaboration on Sthavar.
The explanation of Jiva(living beings) is done in great depth in Pannavana Sutra and Jivabhigam. But to enable ordinary people to learn about Jiva, Pujya Acharya Shri Shantisurishwarji Maharaja created this scripture called as “Jiva-Vichar” which has 50 shlokas in prakrit. This series is an English translation of the same done by disciples of Pujya Achary Shri Gunratna Surishwar Maharaj.
Types of Jiva
What are the types of living beings that exist?
Two types of living beings exist:
1. Liberated Soul(mukta) 2. Non-liberated Soul(sansari)
Who are called liberated souls(mukta)?
The living beings that are free from the cycle of birth and death and are free from all 8 karmas are called Siddh Jiva(liberated souls). After attaining liberation once, there is no necessity to come back to the world(sansaar) again. Therefore their state in agam sutra is explained as Saadi i.e. “with a beginning” but Anant i.e. “without an end”.
The liberated souls are situated in the topmost part of the habitable universe called as Lok Akash above the Siddhashila. The Siddhashila is made of minerals which are transparent as a crystalline rock. It is 45 lakh yojana large, the same size as Adhidweep(2 and half islands where we live) from where moksh can be attained. When one attains moksha, he travels vertically up to moksh and settles at a place in moksh that is exactly above the same place on Adhidweep from where he attained moksha.
Who are called non-liberated souls(sansari)?
The living beings that are going through the cycles of birth and death and are not free from any karmic bonadages are called non-liberated souls.
The non-liberated souls can be further classified as Trasa(Mobile) and Sthavara(Immobile). These will be explained in more details as we progress through the chapters.
Sthavar
The living beings that cannot move on their own will are called Sthavar(Immobile). E.g. trees, leaves, water etc..
How are immobile living beings classified?
The immobile living beings can be classified into 22 types as follows:
What are Sukshma living beings?
An individual or group of living beings that cannot be seen by our naked eye and cannot be felt by the sense of touch are called Sukshma(minute) living beings. Even if innumerable such living beings are brought together, they can not be perceived through any of the senses. But they exists everywhere in the universe. Neither can they be divided or harmed or killed by anyone or anything.
What are Badar living beings?
Exactly opposite of Sukshma. Those living beings(or a group of such) that can be seen through eyes are called “Badar”.
What are Paryapta(complete) living beings?
Every living being can have six types of parayaptis : Ahar(Ability to take food), Kaya(Body), Indriya(Sense Organs), Shwashoswas(Respiration) and Man(Mind). Those living beings that achieve all 6 paryaptis after being born are called Paryapta.
What are Aparyapta(incomplete) living beings?
Those living beings that die before attaining the above 6 parayaptis are called as Aparyapta.
What are kayas?
The Sthavar have 5 types of bodies : Earth, Fire, Water, Air and Vegetal. These are called as Kayas which literally means bodies.
- Earthly Bodies
Living beings having soil, minerals or rock as their bodies are know as earthly bodies. E.g. Quartz, pearl, gem, cinnabar, realgar, mercury, gold, chalk, clay, gypsum, coral, mica, alum, soda, salts etc..
2. Water Bodies
Living beings that have water as their bodies are known as water bodied sthavar. E.g. Ice, raindrops, hailstones, dew drops, fog
3. Fire Bodies
These have fire as their bodies. E.g. Burning coal, flame, spark, meteor, lightning etc..
4. Air Bodies
These have air as their bodies. E.g. fresh air that we breath, cyclone, windstorm etc..
5. Vegetal Bodies
The Vegetal Bodies are of two types:
a. Pratyeka
The different parts of a plant : Fruit, Flowers, Trunk, Leaves, Root, Bulb, Bark are all different living beings. Those parts of the plant with exactly one living being in it are called as Pratyek.
b. Sadharan
Some parts of the plants such as root and bulb have infinite living beings in a single part. These are called as Sadharak or Anantkay. Further, seeds that have just sprouted, mushrooms, spinach, tennder froots, fungi in five colors, tender shoots of plants. The following are the characteristics of Sadharan Vanaspatikay:
- The nodes, veins and joints of the flora are concealed(e.g. Aloe Vera)
- It splits into two equal parts
- It has hidden fibers
- It has the ability to grow even after being cut(all roots)
In the next chapter, we will learn about various types of Tras(Mobile) Living Beings.
