Philosophy In Jain Agams: Constituents of Soul

The principle of jīva has been accepted in many philosophies. There is also a description about the soul's size. Soul being thumb's size or body size or all pervasive is also a subject matter of discussion. However, how many atoms or units it has, is not discussed anywhere besides, Jain philosophy. By denoting astikāya as composed of pradeśas, Mahavira has given a new dimension to the nature of the soul.^[1] The soul has an independent existence. The soul has its pradeśas - this is the original establishment of Lord Mahavira. There are atoms of non-conscious matter and also of soul i.e. conscious matter. There is surely a basic difference between the atoms of matter and of soul. The atoms of matter remain scattered but the atoms of soul cannot be separated. Those innumerable atoms can never be separated hence their name is pradeśa. Acharya Mahapragya also writes -

A space - unit and an atom do not have measurement differences, both are equal in dimension. Their difference is only in their aggregation.

Soul has innumerable atoms (space units). They never get separated and always remain in intact form. They have been called pradeśa, and not an atom. The space that an atom covers is the same space that is covered by the pradeśas of the soul. On the basis of this, it can be said that a soul has innumerable pradeśas implying innumerable atoms. This means that the soul has constituents. These constituents of soul always remain intact. According to the Jain philosophy, the meaning of existence is atom or aggregate of atoms. Dharmāstikāya, adharmāstikāya, ākāśātikāya and jīvāstikāya- are four aggregates. Their pradeśas do not get separated that is why they are called aggregates. The atoms of pudgalāstikāya are in both integrated and disintegrated states. So they possess both the states. Among five astikāyas, only jīvāstikāya's aggregate is consc2ious. The rest of the aggregates and atoms are devoid of consciousness.^[2]