Author: Dhruti Ghiya Rathi

About Author

Email: dhrutirathi@gmail.com

Dhruti is a New Jersey-based MBA, SAP and FJAS professional. A Pathshala and guest lecturer for Jainism at VCU University and High schools, she has spoken at Comparative Religion Conference, Religious Baccalaureates and Rotary Club in Richmond, VA. Involved with Jainism-Says-Blogspot, she researches Jain Iconography, Epigraphy, Historical and Numismatic references in Jain literature overlooked by historians, and on the applications of Jain principles. Dhruti’s research was presented at the Dating of Mahavir Nirvana Symposium by ISJS.

Leśyā and Transmigration of Souls June, 2024 by Dhruti Ghiya Rathi

In Jainism,  soul when transmigrating is accompanied by a Karman sharir, per some records Tejas sharir, and by the soul’s Leśyā. Leśyās are defined in three ways: Complexion of the souls, thought tints, mind activities There are six kinds of Leśyā’s defined in the Jain scriptures such as Bhagwati and Uttaradhyayan Sutras. These are further categorized into Asubh (inauspicious) and Shubh (Auspicious) Leśyās. Leśyā being a  form of pudgal or matter has a color, taste,  smell and touch. They are further divided into Dravya Leśyā and Bhâv Leśyās.  The image below shows the six colors that both Dravya and Bhâv Leśyās have.

Kundakunda Ãchãrya: His Names and His Era March, 2024 by Dhruti Ghiya Rathi

Various names assigned to the highly venerated Ãchãrya Kundakunda have always been intriguing to a reader, as to the cause of associating so many names to one person? Could there be a possibility that we are mixing personalities? What other references are available to corroborate the traditional view? In Prakrit, he is known as KondaKundai. Konda, per some authors is his place of origin and hence the name Kunda (flower) from Konda.

Jainism and Environment February, 2023 by Dhruti Ghiya Rathi

The core value of Jainism is to be of service to one another expressed through the phrase Parasapagraho Jivanam. Jainism classifies living beings into various categories from having one to five senses. Categories of living beings include plants and trees (vanaspatikaya), air (vayukaya), water (apkaya), fire (teukaya), and soil-earth (prithvikaya), and are the lowest category of living beings. Humans and mammals with five senses are a part of the highest category of living beings.