Jain Metaphysics and Science: 7.7.1 Form Producing Karma

The form producing karma decide the place of birth like heaven, hell or Earth like planet, the kind of species on Earth, shape and structure of the body, number of organs, etc. of the soul in the next birth. Other types of karmas determine the qualities and capabilities of the organism. There are 42 types, and 93 sub-types, of form producing karma. The fruition of these karma initiates processes, which determine the respective body characteristics.

1. The realms of existence (Gati) karma. The karma, which give the soul the shape of an infernal being, subhuman being, human being or celestial being, are called realms of existence karma.
2. The genus of being (Jati) karma. The fruition of genus of being karma is the reason that the soul becomes one sense, two-sense, three-sense, four-sense, or five-sense being. 
3. Body (Sarira) karma. The body karma decides the kind of bodies from among the 5 types the soul will have. The 5 types of bodies are gross (audarik), protean (vaikriya) migrating (aharaka), fiery (tejas) and karma body.
4. Organ (Angopang) karma. The fruition of this karma determines formation of various organs at proper place and of appropriate size in the body. This is of three sub types, the organs for gross body, protean body and migration body.
5. Morphology (Nirman) body karma. The fruition of this karma determines that all organs and parts shall assemble and integrate in a proper way to impart a shape typical of the species.
6. Body bond (Bandhan) karma. The fruition of this karma is the basis for atoms and molecules of the five types of bodies to unite.   
7. Integration of body (Sanghat) karma. The fruition of this karma effect integration of united molecules to form a monolithic structure.
8. Architecture of body (Sansthan) karma. The fruition of this karma gives the lump of mass a definite shape. There are six types of body shapes.

• Perfect symmetry all over (Samchaturastra Sansthan) karma.
• Nyagrodh Parimandal Sansthan karma. Nyagrodh means fig. Tree, and parimandal means circumference. The fruition of this karma is the cause for the body to be like a fig tree. The body is short and asymmetrical below the navel, and large and symmetrical above it.
• Svati Sansthan karma. Fruition of this karma gives the body a tapering shape, broad and symmetrical in the lower, but short and asymmetrical in the upper extremities.
• Hunchback figure (Kubjak) body karma. The fruition of this karma gives the body a hunch or spread in the middle.
• Dwarf (Vaman) body karma. The fruition of this karma results in a dwarf or short body.
• Asymmetrical (Hundak) body karma. The fruition of this karma gives an asymmetrical or irregular body

9. Skeleton (Sanhanan) karma. The fruition of this karma provides the skeleton structure of bones and joints to the body. There are six types of skeleton structures.

• Fully adamantine skeleton (Vrij Rushabh Narach Sanhanan) karma. The fruition of this karma gives the body the adamantine bones, joints and nerves. It is very strong structure (like steel).
• Partial adamantine skeleton (Vrij Narach Sanhanan) karma. The fruition of this karma gives the body the adamantine bones and joints but not nerves. This structure is also very strong.
• Unbreakable skeleton (Narach Sanhanan) karma. The fruition of this karma gives skeleton structure of unbreakable bones and joints.
• Semi unbreakable skeleton (Ardha Narach Sanhanan) karma. The fruition of this karma gives a skeleton structure of semi-unbreakable bones and joints.  
• Riveted skeleton (Kilika Sanhanan) karma. The fruition of this karma gives a skeleton structure having riveted bone joints.
• Loose skeleton (Asamprata Supatika Sanhanan) karma. The fruition of this karma gives a skeleton structure of loosely jointed bones. This is the weakest type of skeleton structure. The normal human beings have this kind of skeleton structure.

10. The body colour (Varna) karma. The fruition of this karma determines the colour of the body.
11. The body smells (Gandh) karma. This karma determines the smell of the body. The smell can be fragrant or foul.
12. The body taste (Rasa) karma. This karma determines the taste of the body or its parts (like fruits, leaves)
13. The body touches (Sparsha) karma.  This karma determines the quality of touch of the body.
14. Migration (Anupurvi) body karma. This determines the shape of the body the soul has during migration from one life to another life. The shape of migration body is similar to the shape of the body left by the soul.
15. Balanced weight (Agurulaghu) body karma. This karma determines the balance of weight in the body. The body is not too heavy, like an iron ball, nor too light like a cotton ball.
16. Self-destructive (Upaghat) body karma. The fruition of this karma provides a body that can harm the self. For example, a stag's horn. 
17. Bellicosity (Paraghat) body karma. This provides a body, which becomes a cause in destroying others. For example, poison in the mouth of a snake, sting in the tail of a scorpion, paws of a lion, poison in a tree, etc.
18. Hot radiation (Atap) body karma. The fruition of this karma provides a body that gives hot radiations. The body itself is not hot but its radiations produce heat.
19. Cold radiation (Udyot) body karma. The fruition of this karma provides a body that gives cold radiations. For example a glowworm.
20. Movement of body (Vihayogati) karma. The fruition of this karma provides movements to body. The movements are of two types: graceful and awkward.
21. Respiration (Uchchhavas) body karma. The fruition of this karma enables the body to have respiration i.e. a respiration system is formed in the body.
22. Mobile (Trasa) body karma. Fruition of this karma provides mobility in the body. The body has two to five senses.
23. Stationary (Sthavar) body karma. Fruition of this karma provides a stationary body to soul. For example, earth body, water body, air body, fire body or plant body. These living beings are motion less.
24. Gross (Badar) body karma. This karma determines that the soul will have a gross (visible) body.
25. Nano (Susksma) body karma. This karma determines that the soul will have a nano body. For example virus, nano organisms.
26. Developed (Paryapta) body karma. This karma determines that the body is fully developed   in respect of six bio potentials.
27. Underdeveloped (Aparyapta) body karma. This karma results in underdeveloped, body lacking in one or all bio potentials.
28. Individual (Pratyeka) body karma. The fruition of this karma gives an individual body to the soul.
29. Common (Sadharana) body karma. The fruition of this karma determines that a body is shared by many souls.
30. Stable (Sthir) body karma. The fruition of this karma ensures that the organs in the body are stable.
31. Unstable (Asthir) body karma. The fruition of this karma makes the organs in the body unstable. That is, the organ formed shall not retain shape and size.
32. Beautiful (Shubh) body karma. The fruition of this karma produces a good-looking charming body.
33. Ugly (Ashubh) body karma. The fruition of this karma produces an ugly looking body.
34. Amiable (Subhag) body karma. The fruition of this karma gives an amiable body, but this may or may not be beautiful or handsome.  
35. Unpleasant (Durbhag) body karma. The fruition of this karma gives a non-amiable body, even when it is beautiful.
36. Sweet voice (Sushvar) body karma. The fruition of this karma produces a sweet voice in the body.
37. Harsh voice (Dushwar) body karma. The fruition of this karma produces a harsh voice in the body.
38. Impressive (Adey) body karma. The fruition of this karma produces an impressive and radiant body.
39. Non-impressive (Anadey) body karma. The fruition of this karma produces a nonimpressive body.
40. Fame (Yash Kirti) body karma. The fruition of this karma brings fame to the individual. 
41. Notoriety (Ayash Kirti) body karma. The fruition of this karma brings notoriety (bad name) to the individual.
42. Tirthankara (Omniscient) body karma. The fruition of this karma produces a body suitable for omniscient.

We find that Jain philosophy provides an elaborate description of karmas, which are responsible for producing a variety of shapes and sizes of bodies suitable for whole range of biodiversity and beyond. We had seen earlier that these karmas form a coherent electro magnetic field in the body, the emission from which influence the genes and thus produce the expected results in the body. Form producing karma, must play a role in gene mutation which is considered to be the main cause of evolution. The fact, that various types of form producing karma perform different kinds of functions shows that a large number of genes are required to produce a body and its parts, and more so to produce the biodiversity. Mutations occur in random errors, and evolution operates retrospectively on the result of the random errors, which are usually disastrous. A previously mutated gene may prove beneficial in a new environment and the organisms, carrying such a gene will then successfully reproduced. Only half of our genes are given to our offspring, diluting any germ line genetic modifications over time. Non-germ line alterations are not carried out to next generation.