लिंपइ अप्पीकीरइ
By डॉ. आ. તે. उपाध्याय, पं. कैलाशचन्द्र शास्त्री
Summary
The text discusses the Jain concept of leshya, which is defined as that by which the soul becomes smeared or attached to karmas. It is described as the activity of mind, speech, and body that is colored by the rise of passions (kashaya). Through leshya, the soul appropriates its own merit (punya) and demerit (papa). Leshya is divided into two main types based on substance (dravya) and disposition (bhava): dravya leshya and bhava leshya. There are six primary types of leshya: black (krishna), blue (nila), grey (kapota), red/tawny (teja), lotus-pink (padma), and white (shukla). Dravya leshya is the color of the body produced by the rise of the color (varna) name-karma. These six types of dravya leshya correspond to specific bodily colors: krishna leshya is like the color of a black bee or collyrium; nila leshya is like the color of a sapphire; kapota leshya is like the color of a pigeon; teja leshya is like the color of gold; padma leshya is like the color of a lotus; and shukla leshya is like the color of a conch shell. Each of these six types has numerous sub-types, being countable, uncountable, or infinite in their variations. The text is sourced from the Gommatasara (Jiva Kanda) and edited by Dr. A. S. Upadhyay and Pt. Kailashchandra Shastri.
Conclusion
The implications of this text are significant for understanding Jain philosophical and karmic theory, as it systematically defines the concept of *leśyā* (coloring of the soul). The document establishes that *leśyā* is the mechanism by which the soul becomes stained by karma, arising from the activity of mind, speech, and body colored by the rise of passions. It categorizes *leśyā* into six primary types—black, blue, grey, yellow, lotus-pink, and white—each corresponding to a specific physical body color (e.g., black like a bee, white like a conch). This classification provides a direct, observable link between an individual's external appearance and their internal karmic state. The outcome is a practical framework for assessing spiritual progress: the lighter the *leśyā*, the purer the soul. Thus, the text offers a concrete method for self-evaluation and spiritual advancement within Jain doctrine.