In Jainism, Paryāpta jeev and Aparyāpta jeev are types of living beings (jiv) based on how far their basic powers (paryāpti) have developed.

1. What is Paryāpt and Aparyāpt?

• Paryāpt jeev

A jeev whose required paryāptis (powers) have been fully developed. It has properly formed body, senses, respiration, etc., according to its type.

• Aparyāpt jeev

A jeev whose paryāptis are not yet fully developed and who may even die before completing them (for example, within a very short time after coming into a new existence).

Paryāpti means the special power by which a soul takes in pudgal (matter) like food and forms:

1. Food (Āhār)
2. Body (Śarīr)
3. Senses (Indriya)
4. Respiration (Śvās–occhvās)
5. Speech (Bhāṣā)
6. Mind (Man)

2. Simple examples of Paryāpt jeev

1) Normal human being - A child who survives after birth, whose body, senses, breathing, and speech all develop normally. - This human jeev has completed its proper paryāptis, so it is paryāpt.

2) Fully formed animals - A cow, dog, bird, fish, etc., which is born properly, breathes, moves, uses senses, and lives a normal life. - Their body and senses are fully developed → paryāpt jeev.

3) Plants that grow properly - A seed that sprouts, develops roots, stem, leaves and continues to live. - Its basic powers to take food and build body have been completed → paryāpt.

4) One-sense beings like earth-bodied, water-bodied, etc. - A clod of earth that has a stable earth-bodied life, or a steadily existing water-bodied jeev (like in a pond), which has completed food, body, sense and respiration paryāpti. - Such ekendriya jeev are paryāpt.

3. Simple examples of Aparyāpt jeev

1) Newly conceived living being that dies very quickly - A human embryo that forms but dies before the main body and senses fully develop. - It started paryāpti, but could not complete them → aparyāpt jeev.

2) Egg or tiny creature that dies almost immediately after coming into existence - For example, a small insect or micro-organism that appears and perishes within a very short span, before its body and senses are fully formed. - This is aparyāpt.

3) Seed that just begins to live but dries before sprouting fully - Life starts in the seed, but it dies before proper root–shoot formation and growth. - That jeev remains aparyāpt.

4) Any jeev that dies within the short “antarmuhurt” period after taking birth, without finishing its allotted paryāptis - Even devas (heavenly) or nāraki (hellish) beings can, in some specific karmic conditions, die early before completing paryāpti. - Then they are counted as aparyāpt jeev.

4. Main point to remember

• Paryāpt jeev = those whose basic life-powers (paryāpti) have reached full development for that type of body.
• Aparyāpt jeev = those who die or remain in a state where these powers never become complete.

This classification is accepted in both Digambar and Śvetāmbara traditions; the technical details in texts may vary slightly, but the basic idea is the same.

You can read more about the different kinds of jiv and their development here