Jain Metaphysics and Science: 3.1.2.2 Three Types

The pudgala can be classified into three types in respect of the cause of transformation viz,

1. Prayoga - Parinata (body matter). The pudgala (matter), which is taken in and transformed into body form by vital processes of living beings, falls in this category.
2. Misra - parinata (mixed body substance matter). The pudgala (matter), which was associated with living beings in the past, but is now abandoned by it, and therefore, is no longer being transformed by the agency of vital processes, but undergoes autotransformation, is misra (mixed)-parinata. That is, transformations, which are partly under the influence of soul and partly due to the nature of the substance itself, belong to this category. Shoe-leather is an instance of this type.
3. Visrasa-parinat (auto-transformed). Matter, which undergoes natural trnasformation i.e. without interaction with living beings, is visrasa-parinat. Clouds, rainbow, meteors, etc. are instances of this class.

Subtle changes take place in every substance every moment. Gross changes occur in soul and pudgala only. In this respect both soul and pudgala are similar but as far as the total changes are concerned pudgala far exceed soul. Changes in pudgala make the world change. Everything from the beginning to end in the world is governed by the natural changes taking place in pudgala and soul. The universe is self-managed from this point of view. Considering alienated modifications, the universe is governed by changes caused by union and separation of soul and pudgala. Soul and pudgala influence each other and both experience self-generated and alienated modification.  Taking a comparative view, the amount of prayog - parinat (body matter) is least of all, the misra - parinat pudgala is infinite times more and the visrasa - parinat pudgal is still infinite times more than this.