Questions & Answers on Jainism

Q-1: What is manoratha?
Ans. Manoratha is an auspicious thought activity for spiritual uplift.
Q-2: What is Vyatikrama?
It is to start the bodily activity transgressing the vow.
Q-3: When is the paushadha vow usually observed by a shravak?
On auspicious days like 8th, 14th or 15th day of each half cycle of the month
Q-4: What is done during the Paushadha vow?
In paushadha vrat, a person spends 36 hours starting from the previous evening and next full day till early morning next day in spiritual activities and meditation. During this time, one usually does not take any food or drink, does not have any Sensual desires, or decorate the body, etc. They stop all inauspicious activities of the mind, body, and speech.
Q-5: What is the vow of Samayik?
It is to stop inauspicious vibrations of the mind, body, and speech for forty-eight minutes.
Q-6: Who is a Shravak?
Shravak is one who believes in spiritual teachings and listens to the scriptures.
Q-7: What is the meaning of Apurva Karan?
Apurva means not earlier, and Apurva Karan menas Jiva has not done sucht thought activity before.
Q-8: What is an Apurva Karan state?
It is the highest state of spiritual thought activity in first gunasthanak when a person begins to realize wrong belief and gives up severe ( Anantanubandhi - error-feeding) passions and ignorance, and obtains the right vision is called Apurva Karan.
Q-9: What is Yatha Pravritti Karan?
It is the state of Jiva when the thought activity is so good that he reduces the period of all karmas except Ayushya Karma to less than kroda krodi Sagropam years.
Q-10: What is Karan?
It is the activity of the soul.
Q-11: What is the first Gunasthanak?
First gunasthanak is the stage where jiva does not realize right from wrong.
Q-12: What is Samyaktva?
Samyaktva is to have faith in the description of jiva and ajiva and the other seven fundamentals as described by Jina.
Q-13: What is Sanshayik Mithyatva?
To doubt the preaching of Tirthankar is sanshayik mithyatva
Q-14: What is Mithyatva?
The false thought-activity
Q-15: Who is Mithyadrishti?
Jiva that has no belief in the teachings of the preceptor, due to a wrong perception is called Mithyadrishti.
Q-16: What is the total number of types of angels?
198
Q-17: Who are the Vimanik angels?
Vimanik are angels residing in higher plane of the universe in Vimans.
Q-18: What are the names of the twelve Kalpopann angels?
1) Saudharma angels
2) Ishan angels
3) Sanatrumar angels
4) Mahendra angels
5) Brahma angels
6) Lantak angels
7) Maha Shukra angels
8) Sahasrar angels
9) Aanat angels
10) Pranat angels
11) Aaran angels, and
12) Achyut angels.
Q-19: Whom do Parmadhami angels trouble?
Hellish beings.
Q-20: What are the names of the ten Bhavanpati angels?
1. Asur Kumar
2. Nag Kumar
3. Swaran Kumar
4. Vidyut Kumar
5. Agni Kumar
6. Dweep Kumar
7. Udadhi Kumar
8. Disha Kumar
9. Pawan Kumar, and
10. Stanit Kumar.
Q-21: What is Kalpataru?
Kalpataru is the tree that fulfills the desires.
Q-22: What is a Panchindriya Jiva?
A Jiva that has five sense organs is called a Panchendriya Jiva.
Q-23: What are the four types of Tras Jivas?
Two-sensed Jivas, Three-sensed Jivas, Four-sensed Jivas, and Five- sensed Jivas.
Q-24: What is a Tras Jiva?
A Jiva that can move is a Tras Jiva.
Q-25: What are Nigoda Jivas?
An infinite number of jivas living in one body are called Nigod Jivas.
Q-26: Where do Suksham Jivas stay?
Suksham Jivas stay throughout the universe.
Q-27: What is the Bhav Pran?
The intrinsic qualities of soul are the Bhav Pran
Q-28: What is Dev Gati?
Destination to Angel life
Q-29: What is Manushya Gati?
Destination to human life
Q-30: What is Tiryanch Gati?
Destination to earth-body, water body, fire body, air body, plant life, or animal life
Q-31: What is the maximum stay in hell?
Thirty-three Sagaropam
Q-32: What is the minimum stay in the hell?
Ten thousand years
Q-33: Who troubles the hellish beings in the hells?
The hellish Jivas trouble each other out of deep anger, malice, and hatred in all seven hells. In the first three naraki, Parmadhami angels trouble them also.
Q-34: What is Narak Gati?
To be born in Hell is called Narak Gati.
Q-35: How many Gatis are there that a Jiva can go through?
Four
Q-36: What is a Gati?
It is the destination of the living being after death.
Q-37: What is the four-letter term for a living being?
Jiva
Q-38: What type of Jivas can not move?
One-sensed Jivas
Q-39: What is the word for the one-sensed Jiva?
Sthavar Jiva
Q-40: What is the word for the moving Jiva?
Tras
Q-41: What is the main difference between Jiva and Ajiva?
The main difference between a jiva and an ajiva is that a jiva has a consciousness while an ajiva does not.
Q-42: What is the term for space in Jainism?
Akastikay.
Q-43: What is the term for time in Jainism?
Kala
Q-44: What is the Jain term for the matter?
Pudgala
Q-45: What is the function of Dharmastikaya?
It helps in the motions of the jiva and ajiva.
Q-46: What is the function of Adharmastikaya?
It helps the living beings and nonliving things to come to rest.
Q-47: What is the liberated Jiva called?
Siddha
Q-48: What is the maximum number of Pran in Jiva?
Ten
Q-49: What is the difference in Lokakasha and Alokakasha?
Lokakasha contains Dharamastikaya and Adharmastikaya, and Jiva while Alokakasha is absent of them.
Q-50: What is the English word for Lokakasha?
Universe
Q-51: What is the use of Taijas Shareer?
To convert the food into the energy
Q-52: Who is a Veetragi?
A Jiva who does not have either attachment, or hatred is called veetragi.
Q-53: Does a liberated soul have any form?
No
Q-54: Does the liberated soul sleep?
No
Q-55: Is a liberated soul reborn again?
No, no more births
Q-56: How much does a liberated soul know?
A liberated soul knows everything.
Q-57: What are the subtle bodies of a Jiva?
Taijas Shareer and Karman Shareer are the subtle bodies of a Jiva.
Q-58: What is Audarik Shareer?
Audarik Shareer is a gross body.
Q-59: What are the five shareers (bodies) a Jiva can have?
Audarik shareer, vaikriya shareer, aharak shareer, taijas shareer karman shareer
Q-60: What are the five types of Jivas?
One-sensed Jivas, Two-sensed Jivas, Three-sensed Jivas, Four-sense Jivas, and Five-sensed Jivas.
Q-61: How many types of Jivas are there?
There are five types of Jivas.
Q-62: How long have the Jivas and the Ajivas been in the universe?
They have been there since time immemorial.
Q-63: Is the world formed of only Jivas?
No, it is formed of Jivas and Ajivas.
Q-64: Can Jivas or Ajivas go to Alokakash?
No.
Q-65: Is there any difference between an atom and a parmanu pudgal?
A Parmanu pudgal is much more subtle than an atom; it has no further divisions.
Q-66: What are the ten divisions of the Jivas?
Five - Fully developed one, two, three, four, and five sensed Jiva
Five - Non-fully developed one, two, three, four and five sensed Jiva
Q-67: What are the nine divisions of Jivas?
1) Earth-body Jiva
2) Water-body Jiva
3) Fire-body Jiva
4) Air-body Jiva
5) Vegetable-body Jiva
6) Two-sensed-Jiva
7) Three-sensed-Jiva
8) Four-sensed-Jiva, and
9) Five-sensed-Jiva
Q-68: What are the six divisions of Jivas?
1. Earth-body
2. Water-body
3. Fire-body
4. Air-body
5. Plant-body, and
6. Mobile Jiva.
Q-69: What are the five divisions of Jivas?
One-sensed Jivas
Two-sensed Jivas
Three-sensed Jivas
Four-sensed Jivas, and
Five-sensed jives
Q-70: What are the four divisions of Jivas?
Jivas living in Hell
Plant or animal body
Human body, and
Celestial beings
Q-71: What are the three divisions of Jivas?
Male
Female, and
Neuter
Q-72: What are the two divisions of Worldly Jivas?
Immobile Jivas and
Moving Jivas
Q-73: What are the two divisions of all the Jivas?
Worldly Jiva
Liberated Jiva
Q-74: What are the two broad divisions of Akasha?
Lokakasha
Alokakash
Q-75: What are the five divisions of Ajivas?
Dharmastikaya
Adharmastikaya
Akastikay
Kala, and
Pudgal
Q-76: How many divisions of Ajivas are there?
Five
Q-77: How many Ajivas are there in this group: fish, book, lamp, water table, and chair?
There are four ajivas in this list.
Q-78: What is Ajiva?
An Ajiva substance does not have consciousness.
Q-79: What are the two elements of which this world is formed?
Jivas
Ajivas
Q-80: Name five types of a one-sensed Jivas?
Earth-body Jivas
Water-body Jivas
Fire-body Jivas
Air-body Jivas, and
Vegetable-body Jivas
Q-81: How many different types of a one-sensed Jivas are there?
Five
Q-82: What are the five senses in a Jiva?+
Touch
Taste
Smell
Sight
Hearing
Q-83: How many senses do human beings have?
Five
Q-84: Can the soul be seen?
No
Q-85: What are the four gatis (destinations)?
Narak gati
Tiryanch gati
Manushya gati
Dev gati
Q-86: How many hells are there?
Seven
Q-87: Who is a Bhavya Jiva?
A Jiva that has the potential to attain liberation is a Bhavya Jiva.
Q-88: How many Dravya Pranas are there?
Ten
Q-89: What are the ten dravya pranas (vitalities)?
Vitality of - 
Hearing
Sight
Smell
Taste
Touch
Mind
Speech
Body
Breath
Longivity
Q-89: How many Bhava Pranas are there?
Four
Q-90: What are the four bhava pranas?
Knowledge
Conation
Bliss
Infinite energy
Q-91: What are the immobile Jivas?
Jivas that cannot move about are called immobile Jivas.
Q-92: How many divisions are there in Sthavar (Immobile) Jivas?
Two, Subtle (Suksham) and gross (Badar)
Q-93: What are the suksham (subtle) Jivas?
The Jiva that cannot be cut, pierced, burnt, or stopped. They are not visible to worldly people.
Q-94: How many divisions of Suksham Jivas are there?
Five
Q-95: What are the five divisions of suksham Jivas?
Earth-body Jivas
Water-body Jivas
Fire-body Jivas
Air-body Jivas
Plant-body Jivas
What are the gross Jivas?
The gross Jiva live in a gross body, which is visible to the naked eyes and can be cut into pieces, can be pierced, can be burnt, and they can be pricked.
Q-96: How many types of gross immobile (Sthavar) Jivas are there?
Five
Q-97: What are the five types of gross immobile Jivas?
Earth-body gross jives
Water-body gross jives
Fire-body gross jives
Air-body gross jivas
Plant-body gross jives
Q-98: What are the gross water-body Jivas?
Jiva whose body is made of water
Q-99: What are the gross fire-body Jivas?
Jiva whose body is made up of fire only
Q-100: What are the gross air-body Jivas?
Jiva whose bodies is made of air
Q-101: How many divisions of gross plant-body are there?
Two
Q-102: What are the two divisions of gross plant-body Jivas?
Ordinary (Sadharan) plant body
Individual (Pratyek) plant body Jivas
Q-103: Is the Sadharan plant-body a Nigod Jiva?
Yes
Q-104: What are the broad divisions of Nigoda Jivas?
Vyavahar group and
non-vyavahar group
Q-105: How many Nigoda Jivas can live in the space equivalent to that of a needle point?
Innumerable Nigoda Jiva
Q-106: What are the Beindriya Jivas?
Jivas that have senses of touch and taste are called the Two-senseed (Beindriya) Jivas.
Q-107: What are the Chaurindriya Jivas?
Jivas that have sense of touch, taste, smell, and sight are called chaurindriya jivas.
Q-108: What are the five-sensed organs?
Skin
Tongue
Nose
Eyes
Ears
Q-109: What are the seven Hells?
Ghamma
Vansha
Shaila
Anjana
Ritha
Megha
Meghvati
Q-110: Are all the Tiryanch Jivas five-sensed?
No, they can have one, two, three, four or five senses.
Q-111: How many types of Tiryanch Jivas are there?
Forty-eight
Q-112: What are the three groups of the Tiryanch Jivas?
Sthavar
Viklendriaya
Panchendriya.
Q-113: Who are included in Viklendriya Jiva?
Jiva having two, three, or four sense organs
Q-114: How many divisions of human beings are there?
Three hundred and three
Q-115: What are the three hundred and three divisions of human beings?
One hundred and one Sammurchhim panchendriya beings
One hundred and one undeveloped human beings born from Garbha
One hundred and one developed human beings born from Garbh.
Q-116: How many types of Kalpavrikshas (kalptaru) are there?
Ten
Q-117: Who are the Yugaliyas?
Yugaliyas are human beings.
Q-118: Why are they called by this name?
Yugal means a couple. They are born as twins - one is a male and the other is a female. So, they are called Yugaliyas.
Q-119: How many divisions of celestial beings are there?
Four
Q-120: What are the four types of Angels?
Bhavanpati angels
Vanvyantar angels
Jyotishi angels
Vaimanik angels.
Q-121: What are the two divisions of Bhavanpati angels?
Asurkumars
Parmadhami
Q-122: How many Bhavanpati angels are there?
Twenty-five
Q-123: How many Paramadhami angels are there?
Fifteen
Q-124: How many types of Vanvyantar angels are there?
Twenty-six
Q-125: How far from the earth are the Jyotishya angels?
900 Yojans
Q-126: What are the two divisions of Vimanik angels?
Kalpopann angels and Kalpateet angels
Q-127: How many types of Kalpopann angels are there?
Twelve
Q-128: How many types of Kilvishik angels are there?
Three
Q-129: How many types of Lokantik angels are there?
Nine
Q-130: What are the nine types of Lokantik angels?
Saraswat angels
Aditya angels
Vanhi angels
Arun angels
Garadtoya angels
Tushit angels
Avyabadh angels
Agneya angels
Arisht angels.
Q-131: What are the two types of Kalpateet angels?
Graiveyik angels
Anuttarvaimanik angels
Q-132: How many types of Graiveyik angels are there?
Nine
Q-133: What are the nine types of Graiveyik angels?
Bhadra
Subhadra
Sujaya
Sumanas
Sudarshan
Priyadarshan
Amogh
Supraticadh
Yashodhar
Q-134: What are the five types of Anuttarviman angels?
Vijay
Vijayant
Jayant
Aprajit
Sarvarth-Sidha.
Q-135: Name 198 catagories of angels?
99 developed and 99 undeveloped angels
25 Bhavanpati
26 Vanvyantar
10 Jyotishik
12 Kalpopann
03 Kilvishik
09 Lokantik
09 Graiveyik
05 Anuttarvaimanik
198 Totaling
Q-136: What is a Paryapta Jiva?
A Jiva that has fully developed all its paryapties is called paryapta jiva.
Q-137: What is Aparyapta Jiva?
A Jiva that has not developed all its paryapties to the full extent is called aparyapta jiva.
Q-138: Can you Name the different types of Paryapties. 
They are:
1) Ahar
2) Sharir
3) Indriya
4) Shvasoshvas
5) Bhasha
6) Man Paryapti
Q-139: How many are the types of Mithyatva?
Five
Q-140: What are the five types of Mithyayva?
Abhigrahik mithyatva
Anabhigrahik mithyatva
Abhiniveshik mithyatva
Sanshayik mithyatva
Anabhogik mithyatva
Q-141: What are the ten types of Mithyatva ideas?
1. To call Jiva as Ajiva
2. To call Ajiva as Jiva
3. To consider the right path of spirituality as the wrong path
4. To consider the wrong path as the right path of spirituality
5. To consider the right path following monk similar as one following the wrong path
6. To consider a wrong path following monk similar as one following the right path
7. To consider the path of worldly life as path to liberation
8. To consider spiritual path to liberation as wrong path
9. To call liberated souls as non-liberated souls
10. To call non-liberated souls as liberated
Q-142: How many types of Samyakatva are there?
Two
Q-143: What are the two types of Samyakatva?
Vyavahar Samyakatava, which is the practical conation Nishchaya Samykatava, which is the real conation
Q-144: How can we know about the Vyavhar Samyakatva?
There are five signs of Vyavahar Samyakatva. They are:
Sam (Equanmity)
Samvega (Keen desire for liberation)
Nirveda (Non-attachment to sensual feelings)
Anukampa (Compassion)
Astika (Belief in spiritual principles)
Q-145: What is Astika?
Astikta is to believe in
Soul
Punya (merit)
Pap (demerit)
Parlok (next world)
Svarg (celestial abode)
Narak (hell)
Q-146: Are Jains Nastik?
No, those who believe in the soul, merit, demerit, their fruits and believe in liberation, salvation or Moksha are not Nastik. Jains believe in all these, so they are not nastik.
Q-147: What are the ten bases (Ruchies) of Samyaktva?
They are:
1. Nisarg Ruchi (natural desire)
2. Updesh Ruchi (desire arising after listening to scriptural lecture)
3. Agya Ruchi (desire to follow the preachings)
4. Sutra Ruchi (desire to study scripture)
5. Beej Ruchi (to know in brief and then to think about it in detail)
6. Abhigam Ruchi
7. Vistar Ruchi
8. Kriya Ruchi
9. Sankshep Ruchi
10. Dharam Ruchi
Q-148: How many types of Karan are there?
Three
Q-149: What are the three types of Karan?
Yatha Privritti Karan
Apurv Karan
Anivritti Karan
Q-150: What is Anivritti karan?
It is a state of thought activity after reducing the period of Apurv karan by one muhurat, and wiping out the operation of wrong belief when one is about to get the right vision.
Q-151: How many types of Samyakatva are there?
Five
Q-152: What are the five types of Samyakatva?
They are:
Sasuadan samyakatva
Kshayopshamik samyakatva
Aupshamik samyakatva
Vedak samyakatva
Kshayik samyakatva
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12


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Information Courtesy : Mr. Pravin K. Shah
Chairperson JAINA Education Committee
 Federation of Jain Associations in North America 
509 Carriage Woods Circle Raleigh, NC 27607-3969 USA 
Email - Pkshah1@attglobal.net  
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www.jainsamaj.org
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