Shadvikar — Six Stages of Decay
Shadvikar (षड्विकार; ṣaḍvikāra ) is made by blending two Sanskrit words.
- shad - six
- vikar - changes or deformations
Every material body in the entire creation goes through the following six states. These are
- Exists or asti (अस्ति; asti) - body starts to form.
- Born or jayate (जायते; jāyate) it takes birth,
- Grows or vardhate (वर्धते; vardhate) it grows,
- Matures or viparinmate (विपरिणमते; vipariṇamate) It reaches maturity.
- Deteriorates or apaksheeyate (अपक्षीयते; apakṣīyate) It begins to wear out or age e.g body becomes weaker, skin sags, eye sight and hearing decline.
- Ceases to exist or vinashyati (विनश्यति; vinaśyati) one day the body dies and eventually returns back to five gross elements .
