The Enigma Of The Universe : ASAṂKHYĀTA (INNUMERABLE)

The asaṃkhyāta (innumerable) is classified into three types:

1. Parīta Asaṃkhyāta (P. A.)

2. Yukta Asaṃkhyāta (Y. A.)

3. Asaṃkhyāta Asaṃkhyāta (A. A)

Each of the above is again of three types:

1. Jaghanya (Minimum)

2. Madhyama (Middle)

3. Utkṛṣṭa (Maximum)

In this way, there are nine types of asaṃkhyāta. Let us consider each of them one by one.

1. Jaghanya Parīta Asaṃkhyāta (J. P. A.)

By adding one to U. S. we get the value of Jaghanya Parīta Asaṃkhyāta (J. P. A.).

Thus

J. P. A. = (U. S.) +1

2. Madhyama Parīta Asaṃkhyāta (M. P. A.)

The numbers from [(J. P. A.)+1] to [(U. P. A.)-1] are called M. P. A., thus

[(J. P. A.)+1] ≤ M. P. A ≤ [(U. P. A.)-1]

3. Utkṛṣṭa Parīta Asaṃkhyāta (U. P. A.)

[(J. Y. A.)-1] is called U. P. A.

U. P. A. = [(J. Y. A.)-1]

4. Jaghanya Yukta Asaṃkhyāta (J. Y. A.)

J. P. A. raised to itself^[1] is called J. Y. A.

J. Y. A. = (J. P. A.)

5. Madhyama Yukta Asaṃkhyāta (M. Y. A.)

The numbers from [(J. Y. A.)+1] to [(U. Y. A.)-1] are called M. Y. A, thus

[(J. Y. A.)+1] ≤ M. Y. A. ≤ [(U. Y. A.)-1]

6. Utkṛṣṭa Yukta Asaṃkhyāta (U. Y. A.)

[(J. A. A.)-1] is called U. Y. A.

U. Y. A. = [(J. A. A.)-1]

7. Jaghanya Asakhyāta Asaṃkhyāta (J. A. A.)

There are two definitions.

(I) By raising J. Y. A. to itself^[2] we get the value of J. A. A.

(J. A. A) = (J. Y. A)(J. Y. A)

(II) By squaring^[3] J. Y. A., we get J. A. A.

It means,

J. A. A. = (J. Y. A)²

8. Madhyama Asaṃkhyāta Asaṃkhyāta (M. A. A.)

The numbers from [(J. A. A.)+1] to [(U. A. A.)-1] are called M. A. A.. It means,

[(J. A. A.)+1] ≤ M. A. A. ≤ [(U. A. A.)-1]

9. Utkṛṣṭa Asaṃkhyāta Asaṃkhyāta (U. A. A.)

We get four definitions of Maximum Asaṃkhyāta Asaṃkhyāta:

I. By raising J. A. A. to itself and subtracting one from it^[4] gives U. A. A. It means

U. A. A. = {(J. A. A)(J. A. A)-1}

II. Firstly, the square of J. A. A. is squared. Then, the following sets of asaṃkhyāta magnitude^[5] are added in the above result. Then again obtained magnitude is squared three times. Then one is subtracted from the result. What we obtain is the magnitude of U. A. A.^[6] The sets added are^[7]:

(1) The total number of ākāśa-pradeśas (space-units) of the loka.^[8]

(2) The total number of pradeśas of the dharmāstikāya.^[9]

(3) The total number of pradeśas of the adharmāstikāya.^[10]

(4) The number of pradeśas of a single jīva (soul).^[11]

(5) The adhyavasāya-sthānas^[12](the number of states of subtlemost consciousness) which are the cause of the sthiti-bandha (bondage qu‰ duration of karma).

(6) The adhyavasāya-sthānas^[13] which are the cause of the anubhāgabandha (bondage qu‰ intensity of karma).

(7) the indivisible units of the mental, vocal and bodily activities (yoga).^[14]

(8) The total number of samayas of one kālacakra (timecycle).^[15]

(9) The total number of pratyekaśarīrī jīvas (the souls whichare possessed of individual body).^[16]

(10) The total number of the bodies of the anantakāyika (nigoda) jīvas (the souls which are possessed of common body).^[17]

Thus, if the total number of all the above ten sets is p, then

U. A. A. = {(J. A. A)8+(p)8}-1

III. The third definition of U. A. A. is as follows:^[18]

Firstly, the number J. A. A. is made to undergo three times the operation called vargita-saṃvargita (in short, V.-S.).^[19] Then the following six sets are added to the result:

(1) The total number of pradeśas of the dharmāstikāya.

(2) The total number of pradeśas of the adharmāstikāya.

(3) The total number of pradeśas of the loka-ākāśa (cosmic space).

(4) The total number of pradeśas of one jīva (soul).

(5) The number of pratyeka vanaspati jīvas which are pratiṣṭhita.^[20]

(6) The number of pratyeka vanaspati jīvas which are apratiṣṭhita.^[21]

Now, the magnitude which is thus obtained is again made to undergo three times the operation of V.-S. and the following four sets of asaṃkhyāta magnitude are added:

(1) The total numebr of samayas of one kalpakāla (one utsarpiṇī and one avasarpiṇī).

(2) The adhyavasāya-sthānas which are the cause of the anubhāgabandha (bondage qu‰ intensity of karma).

(3) the indivisible units of the mental, vocal and bodily activities (yoga).

(4) The total number of samayas of one kālacakra (timecycle).

Now, the magnitude which is thus obtained is again made to undergo three times the operation of V.-S. Now, one is subtracted from the magnitude thus obtained. The result thus obtained is

U. A. A..

Thus, if J denotes the Jaghanya Asaṃkhyāta Asaṃkhyāta, then by thrice operating V.-S., we get

Now, if the magnitude added first is m₁, then we get

If we call this magnitude j′  then operating thrice V.-S., we get

Now, if we add the magnitude m₂, we get

If we call this magnitude j′′ then

IV. The fourth definition of U. A. A is as follows:^[22]

Firstly, make J. A. A. undergo the operation V.-S. J. A. A. times. The magnitude thus obtained is again made to undergo the same operation that many times. the magnitude thus obtained is again made to undergo the same operation that many times.^[23]Now, the aforementioned six sets of asaṃkhyāta magnitude (see. pp. 377--378) are to be added to the result obtained. Again, the obtained magnitude is made to undergo the operation 'śalakātrayaniṣṭhāpana'. Now, the aforementioned four sets of asaṃkhyāta magnitude (see. p. 378) are added to the magnitude thus obtained. Again the obtained magnitude is made to undergo operation 'śalakātrayaniṣṭhāpana'. Now by subtracting one from the magnitude thus obtained we get what is called U. A. A..