Jiva Vichar Prakaranam

This Jain text, Jiva Vichar Prakaranam by Ratnaprabhvijay, published by Ratnaprabhvijay, is a comprehensive treatise on the nature and classification of living beings (Jivas) according to Jain philosophy. The work, compiled as a digest from a commentary by Pathaka Ratnakara, aims to introduce beginners to the intricate subject of Jivas.

The book begins with a benedictory verse paying homage to Lord Mahavira, the "Light of the Universe," and sets forth the purpose of the treatise: to enlighten the ignorant about the essence of Jivas, which are central to understanding life, the world, and the universe. It emphasizes the importance of the Guru's guidance in this endeavor.

The core of the text meticulously classifies Jivas based on various criteria derived from Jain scriptures.

Key Classifications and Concepts Discussed:

• Primary Division: Jivas are broadly divided into two categories:

  • Mukta Jivas (Emancipated Souls): These are the liberated souls who have conquered all passions and worldly desires, achieving a state of eternal bliss and possessing eight sublime qualities of the pure soul. They are also known as Siddhātmās or Siddha Paramātmās.
  • Samsari Jivas (Mundane or Worldly Beings): These are souls that are still bound by karma and are subject to transmigration through various life forms.

• Classification of Samsari Jivas:

  • Sthāvara (Immobile): Beings that cannot move from one place to another. They possess only one sense organ (touch). This category includes:
    • Prithvi-kaya (Earth-bodied)
    • Ap-kaya (Water-bodied)
    • Tejas-kaya (Fire-bodied)
    • Vayu-kaya (Air-bodied)
    • Vanaspatikaya (Vegetation-bodied)
    • The Vanaspati-kaya are further divided into Sadharana (general, with countless souls in one body) and Pratyeka (individual, with one soul per body). The text provides extensive lists of various types of Sthavara beings, detailing their characteristics, such as their forms, the nature of their bodies (subtle or gross), and their lifespan.
  • Trasa (Mobile): Beings that are capable of moving. They possess two or more sense organs. This category is further divided based on the number of sense organs:
    • Dvindriya (Two-sensed): Possessing touch and taste.
    • Trindriya (Three-sensed): Possessing touch, taste, and smell.
    • Caturindriya (Four-sensed): Possessing touch, taste, smell, and sight.
    • Pancendriya (Five-sensed): Possessing touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing.

• Classification within Pancendriya: These are further classified into:

  • Naraka (Hellish beings): Residing in seven infernal regions, classified by the nature of the hellish earth they inhabit.
  • Tiryanca (Lower animals, Brutes): Further divided into aquatic (Jalacara), land-going (Sthalacara), and sky-going (Khécara) creatures. The text details specific examples within each sub-category, such as quadrupeds, creeping beings, and birds.
  • Manusya (Human beings): These are born in Karma-bhūmis (lands of action) and A-karma-bhūmis (lands without specific actions) and also in Antara-dvipas (inner islands). The text describes the different types of human beings based on their region of birth, lifespan, and social customs, particularly highlighting the "Yugalikas" (pairs of male and female) in A-karma-bhūmis.
  • Déva (Gods or Celestial beings): These are categorized into four main classes:
    • Bhavana-pati (Deities presiding over mansions)
    • Vyantara (Forest deities)
    • Jyotiska (Luminaries like the sun, moon, stars)
    • Vaimānika (Celestial beings residing in Vimanas or aerial palaces), further divided into Kalpopapanna (those with graded positions) and Kalpatita (those beyond such classifications). The text provides detailed classifications of these celestial beings, including their abodes, lifespans, and hierarchical arrangements.

• Classification based on Dandaka: The text also classifies Jivas based on Dandaka, referring to the sinful activities of mind, speech, and body that affect the soul.

• Classification based on Computation: The text presents multiple ways of classifying Jivas according to the Jivābhigama Sūtra, leading to classifications of two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, and ten types of beings, enumerating them based on various attributes like senses, passions, knowledge, and body types. It also mentions classifications leading to twenty-four and thirty-two types of beings.

• Pranas (Vital Airs): The text discusses the vital airs essential for life, which are ten-fold in the form of senses, breath, life-limit, mind, speech, and bodily strength. It details the number of vital airs present in different categories of beings (one-sensed, two-sensed, etc.). The separation from these vital airs is defined as death.

• Yoni-dvāra (Places of Origination): The text specifies the vast number of originating places for living beings, with detailed breakdowns for different categories like elements, Sthavaras, Vikalendriyas, Pancéndriyas, Narakas, and Devas.

• Siddhas (Accomplished Souls): The text describes the Siddhas as those who have achieved liberation, possessing no physical bodies, lifespans, karmas, vital airs, or originating places. Their state is characterized as having a beginning but no end. Fifteen types of Siddhas are mentioned, including those related to Tirthankaras, different states of asceticism, and gender.

• Lifespan and Bodily Measures: A significant portion of the treatise is dedicated to the duration of life and the bodily measures (height and extent) of various types of beings, from the subtle Ekendriyas to the celestial beings. It provides specific figures in yojanas, hastas, and other ancient Indian units of measurement.

• Author and Purpose: The author, Sri Säntisūri, is identified as a prominent Jain scholar and poet, possibly Sāntibhadra Sūri, who lived in the late 11th century V.S. The compiler, Ratna-prabha Vijaya, states that the motive behind this abridged edition is to enlighten those with limited understanding.

• Scientific Alignment: The introduction notes the scientific approach of the text and highlights that Jainism recognized life in vegetables long before modern scientific proofs.

In essence, Jiva Vichar Prakaranam provides a structured and detailed exploration of the Jain understanding of the diverse forms of life in the universe, their characteristics, lifespans, and their ultimate spiritual journey towards liberation. It serves as a foundational text for understanding the Jain perspective on biology and the soul.