Q-1 What is the Leshya?

Ans. The various mental tendencies which a soul undergoes are called Leshyas.

Q-2 How many different Leshyas are there?

Ans. There are six Leshyas.

Q-3 Can you name all the Leshyas?

Ans. Krishna (Black) Leshya
Neel (Blue) Leshya
Kapot (Brown) Leshya
Tejo (Red) Leshya
Padma (Yellow) Leshya
Shukla (White) Leshya.

Q-4 Can you name the worst Lesyas?

Ans. Krishna (Black) Leshya

Q- 5 Can you name the best Leshya?

Ans. Shukla (White) Leshya.

Q-6 Can you name the bad leshyas?

Ans. Krishna (Black) Leshya
Neel (Blue) Leshya
Kapot (Brown) Leshya.

Q-7 Can you name the good leshyas?

Ans. Tejo (Red) Leshya
Padma (Yellow) Leshya
Shukla (White) Leshya.

Q-8 What is the characteristic of Krishna (Black) Leshya?

Ans. A person who shows no compassion at all, and does not show even a slightest mercy. Everyone is afraid of him. His anger soon turns into violence. He always burns with jealousy and anger. He is filled with animosity and malice. He does not believe in the religion.

Q-9 Where does a person get born if he/she dies while in the Krishna (Black) Leshya?

Ans. If he dies in this state of mind, he will go to the hell.

Q-10 What is the characteristic of Neel (Blue) Leshya?

Ans. A person is burning with pride and is very haughty. He is not reliable. People avoid his company. He is a lazy, a cheater, and a hypocrite. He avoids the religious lectures. He is a coward and filled with passions.

Q-11 Where does a person get born if he/she dies while in the Neel (Blue) Leshya ?

Ans. If he dies in this state of mind, he would be born as a plant.

Q-12 What is the characteristic of Kapot (Brown) Leshya?

Ans. A person is always sad, and gloomy and dejected. He finds fault in others and is vindictive. He does not spare even the noble souls. He boasts of himself. He is excited over small matters. He lacks mental balance.

Q-13 Where does a person get born if he/she dies while in the Kapot (Brown) Leshya?

Ans. If he dies in this state of mind, he would be reborn as a bird, or an animal.

Q-14 What is the characteristic of Tejo (Red) Leshya?

Ans. A person is very careful about his actions, and discriminates between good and evil. He is afraid of doing bad deeds. He is kind benevolent, and religious. He has a balanced personality. He leads a harmonious life.

Q-15 Where does a person get born if he/she dies while in the Tejo (Red) Leshya?

Ans. If he dies in this state of mind, he will be reborn as a human being.

Q-16 What is the characteristic of Padma (Yellow) Leshya?

Ans. A person who is kind and benevolent and forgives even his enemies. He observes some austerities. He is very conscious and vigilant in keeping his vows. When asked for the help even by his enemy, he helps them. He does not lose his balance in pleasure or pain. He is always cheerful.

Q-17 Where does a person get born if he/she dies while in the Padma (Yellow) Leshya?

Ans. If he dies in this leshya, he will be born in heaven as a demigod.

Q-18 What is the characteristic of Shukla (White) Leshya?

Ans. A person having no attachment or hatred; whatsoever, treats everyone alike. He is trustworthy. He treats every soul as his own soul. He remains immersed in soul experience and self-realization.

Q-19 Where does a person get born if he/she dies while in the Shukla (White) Leshya?

Ans. If he dies in this state of mind, he will be liberated from the cycle of birth and death.

Q-20 Can a person's leshya change?

Ans. Yes, leshya can change within a fraction of a second, too.

Q-21 Does leshya play a role in accumulation of karmas?

Ans. Yes, leshya brings the mental tendency which in turn causes actions. So, leshya does play part in accumulating, as well as, shedding karmas.

Q-22 What is the Pratikraman?

Ans. This is a process of repentance (prayschitta) during which we repent for our wrongful doing during our daily life, and remind us to restrain from doing so again. This helps us to bring back the soul that has lost its way in the meshes of outward actions and pursuits.

Q-23 How many times should one do the Pratikraman in a day?

Ans. As a Jain if possible, one should do pratikramans twice a day.

Q-24 What are the different Pratikramans?

Ans. There are five different types:
1) Devasi Pratikraman:
2) Rayi Pratikraman:
3) Pakhi Pratikraman:
4) Chomasi Pratikraman:
5) Samvatsari Pratikraman:

Q-25 What does Devasi Pratikraman mean?

Ans. Devasi pratikraman is performed daily in the evening to ask for the forgiveness of sins committed during the daytime.

Q-26 What does Raysi Pratikraman mean?

Ans. Raysi Pratikraman is performed in the early morning to ask for the forgiveness for the sins committed during the nighttime.

Q-27 What does Pankhi Pratikraman mean?

Ans. Pakhi Pratikraman is done once in 15 days.

Q-28 What does Caumasi Pratikraman mean?

Ans. The Chaumasi Pratikraman is done once in four months on poonam (full moon day) of 1) Kartik, 2) Falgun and 3) Ashadh months of lunar calendar year for the sins committed during that period.

Q-29 What does Samvatsari Pratikraman mean?

Ans. The Samvatsari Pratikraman is done once in a year on the last day of paryushan i.e., on the fifth day of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapada for the sins committed during the whole year.

Q-30 What is the Samgna?

Ans. Samgna means natural tendency of the soul.

Q-31 Can you name some Samgnas?

Ans. Ahar Samjna
Bhay Samjna
Maithun Samjna
Parigraha Samjna
Krodha Samjna
Maan Samjna
Maya Samjna
Lobha Samjna
Ogha Samjna
Loka Samjna

Q-32 What is the Kashaya?

Ans. Kashaya means passions which make the soul wander in this worldly life.

Q-33 Can you name the Kashayas?

Ans. Kashayas are:
Krodha (anger)
Mana (ego)
Maya (deceit)
Lobha (greed).

Q-34 What is meant by the Samiti?

Ans. Samiti means Carefulness.

Q-36 How many types of Samities are there?

Ans. Five

Q-37 Can you name five Samities?

Ans. 1. Irya-samiti
2. Bhasha-samiti
3. Eshana-samiti
4. Adan-nikshepan Samiti
5. Parishtapanika Samiti

Q-38 What does the Irya Samiti mean?

Ans. Carefulness in movement - Moving about, going anywhere, or returning with an absolute care and alertness so that no harm, pain or any injury is caused to even to any small creature.

Q-39 What does the Bhasa Samiti mean?

Ans. Carefulness in speech - Not uttering anything that is disagreeable to anyone or that could cause pains in the heart of anyone; but rather speak such words as to create please in others. Words are sweet and soft in manner

Q-40 What does the Eshana Samiti mean?

Ans. Carefulness of taking food - Accepting food as prescribed per Jain principles so it would be faultless.

Q-41 What does the Adan-Nikshepan Samiti mean?

Ans. Carefulness clothes and other articles of daily use - Take utmost care before using clothes to make sure that there are no insects in the folds which may be crushed, hurt, or killed. Care must be also taken before taking and putting away vessels, books, or sitting down, etc.

Q-42 What is meant by the Parishtapanika Samiti?

Ans. Be careful about how, and where one disposes of trash, refuse, or excretions so that no harm is done to even the minute insects or bugs.

Q-43 What does the Gupti mean?

Ans. Guptis means restraints.

Q-44 How many different types of Gupties are there?

Ans. Three

Q-45 Can you name different types of Gupties?

Ans. Mano Gupti
Vachan Gupti
Kaya Gupti

Q-46 What does the Mano Gupti mean?

Ans. Restraint of the mind - Not to entertain any evil thoughts; and freeing the mind from sinful inclinations.

Q-47 What does the Vachan Gupti mean?

Ans. Restraint on speech - Not to utter any evil, disagreeable or unnecessarily and practicing silence.

Q-48 What does the Kaya Gupti mean?

Ans. Restraint on the body - Not to perform any physical activities which could cause pain suffering or injury.

Q-49 What does the Vandana mean?

Ans. Vandana means bowing down to pay reverence.

Q-50 What do you gain by the Vandana?

Ans. By doing vandana, one becomes humble, and acquires Uchcha Gotra Karma.

Q-51 What are the two things which polute the soul?

Ans. Rag (attachment) and Dwesh (hatred)

Q-52 What does the Rag mean?

Ans. Rag menas attachment.

Q-53 What does the Dwesh mean?

Ans. Dwesh means hatred.

Q-54 What does the Samjna mean?

Ans. Samjna means tendencies.

Q-55 What does the Ahar Samjna mean?

Ans. Tendency for food

Q-56 What does the Bhaya Samjna mean?

Ans. Tendency to fear

Q-57 What does the Maithun Samjna mean?

Ans. Tendency for sex

Q-58 What mean does the Parigraha Samjna mean?

Ans. Tendency for collection of material things

Q-59 What does the Lobha Samjna mean?

Ans. Tendency for avarice

Q-60 What does the Maya Samjna mean?

Ans. Tendency to deceive

Q-61 What does the Maan Samjna mean?

Ans. Tendency to be arrogant

Q-62 What does the Krodha Samjna mean?

Ans. Tendency for anger

Q-63 What does the Ogh Samjna mean?

Ans. The tendency to imitate

Q-64 What is the Praman?

Ans. Praman is to see an object from many points of view and to understand it comprehensively. Praman is that by which, the real nature and form of an object can be understood. There are four kinds of it.

Q-65 What is the Pratyaksha Praman?

Ans. Actual observation - Pratyaksh Praman means seeing an object and obtaining a knowledge of it; and determining its form and nature.

Q-66 What is the Anuman Praman?

Ans. Evaluation - Anuman means thinking of an object and to understand it by means of evaluation.

Q-67 What is the Upama Praman?

Ans. By means of comparison - Upama is to obtain the knowledge of an object by comparing and contrasting it with other things; and thus, determining its nature and form.

Q-68 What is the Agam Praman?

Ans. By means of scriptures - Agam is the name given to the pure statements and expositions based on tenets of Jina; and this knowledge helps us and guides us in our spiritual endeavors. These statements are given by the Kevalis only.

Q-69 How many are the types of Pramanas?

Ans. Four types
1) Pratyaksha
2) Anuman
3) Upama
4) Agam Praman.

Q-70 What is the Naya?

Ans. Naya is the understanding of an object from only one point of view.

Q-71 What are two kinds of the Naya?

Ans. 1. Nishchay Naya
2. Vyavahar Naya

Q-72 What does the Jneya (Gneya) mean?

Ans. Jneya is something to know about.

Q-73 What does the Heya mean?

Ans. Heya is something that we should discard.

Q-74 What does the Upadeya mean?

Ans. Upadeya is something, which we should accept.

Q-75 What does the Sham mean?

Ans. Calmness. Retaining equanimity even in adverse atmosphere.

Q-76 What does the Samvega mean?

Ans. Desire for Moksha. The sprouting of an inner enthusiasm to pursue the path of salvation.

Q-77 What does the Nirved mean?

Ans. Disliking towards the worldly activities. The feeling of detachment from the pleasures and enjoyments of the worldly life

Q-78 What does the Anukampa mean?

Ans. Selfless compassion. Being benevolent, and helpful to the needy, and distressed people.

Q-79 What does the Astika mean?

Ans. Faith in the words of Jina

Q-80 Who is Abhavya Jiva?

Ans. Jiva that does not believe in liberation or salvation is Abhavya Jiva.

Q-81 When was the Jain order divided into Svetambar and Digambar?

Ans. About two hundred years after the liberation of Lord Mahavira.

Q-82 Which Jain sects do not believe statue (idol) worshiping?

Ans. Svetambar Sthanakwasi, Svetambar Terapanthi, Digambar Taranpanthi.

Q-83 Who are the Digambar Jains?

Ans. The Jain order, whose monks do not wear any clothes

Q-84 Who are the Svetambara Jains?

Ans. The Jain order, whose monks wear white cloth

Q-85 What is Chaturmas?

Ans. It is a four months period during the rainy season, when sadhus and sadhvis stay at one place.

Q-86 Where did Mahavira obtain infinite knowledge?

Ans. At the bank of Rijubalika River near Jrimbhak Village in Bihar state.

Q-87 When did Mahavira renounce the world?

Ans. In 569 B.C. at the age of 30 years.

Q-88 When was Mahavira born?

Ans. 599 B.C.

Q-89 Who was the mother of Mahavira?

Ans. Queen Trishla

Q-90 Who was the father of Mahavira?

Ans. King Sidhartha

Q-91 What is the difference between Tirthankars and other Arihants?

Ans. Tirthankars reestablish the religious order, while ordinary arihants do not.

Q-92 What is the name of first Tirthankaras in Mahavideha Kshetra?

Ans. Shri Simandar Swami

Q-93 Where are the current living Tirthankars?

Ans. In Mahavideha Kshetra

Q-94 Who was the head Sadhvi of the religious order of Mahavira?

Ans. Sadhvi Chandanbala

Q-95 What are the chief disciples of Tirthankar called?

Ans. Ganadhara

Q-95 What is the fourfold religious order called?

Ans. Jain Tiratha or Jain Sangh

Q- 96 What does Jain Tirtha do?

Ans. Jain Tirtha helps to purifying the soul.

Q- 97 When did Bhagwan Mahavir re-establish the Jain Sangh?

Ans. In 557 B.C.

Q-98 Why is a Samayik done for forty-eight minutes?

Ans. One cannot concentrate for more than forty-eight minutes at a time.

Q-99 What is Kayotsarga?

Ans. It means to give up one’s physical comfort and body movements, thus staying steady, either in a standing or other posture, and concentrating upon the true nature of the soul

Q-100 What is Prayashchit?

Ans. To atone past deeds infront of monk or nun or by oneself or in front of the person involved.

Q-101 What is the benefit of observing Sanyam (restraint)?

Ans. While staying in Sanyam (restaint) one does not get new karmas.

Q-102 What is the harm caused by attachment?

Ans. Attachment brings out passions like anger, ego, deception and greed and ultimately accumulation of Mohniya Karmas.

Q-103 When can we meditate on Anitya Bhavana?

Ans. Anytime is a good time to meditate on Anitya Bhavana.

Q-104 What is nitya in the living body?

Ans. Soul is nitya (immortal) in the body.

Q-105 Why is the permanent soul in a non-permanent body?

Ans. It is due to the existing karmas, that the soul is in the body.

Q-106 Who can give us protection from worldly sufferings?

Ans. Nobody but us and by following the path shown by:
1) Arihant
2) Siddha
3) Sadhus and sadhvis, and
4) Teachings of the Omniscient ones.

Q-107 When should we meditate on Sansar Bhavana?

Ans. We should meditate daily on Sansar Bhavana. It keeps us away from attachment and hatred towards friends and foes.

Q-108 When should we reflect on Ashuchi Bhavana?

Ans. When we are attracted by the beauty of the body, we should reflect that this body is full of perishable stinking things under the skin. So, why should we be attracted to it.

Q-109 What causes the prey to ashrava?

Ans. False belief, lack of restraints, passions, lethargy, and yoga.

Q-110 What is Samvara?

Ans. Samvara means stop.

Q- 111What is the use of Samvara?

Ans. It stops new karmas coming to the soul.

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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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