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B.2.1.3
Matter and its types
Prof. M. R. Gelra
According to Jainism, the universe comprises of six "existents". They are soul, matter, space, time, medium of motion, and medium of rest. In contrast with standard physics where one deals with matter in time and space coordinate systems, in Jainism it is the soul which is to be studied in terms of time, space and matter. These all are regarded as "substances" which is also a helpful way of considering them.
1.0 Pudgala Pudgala is one of the fundamental realities of the universe. The fundamental reality has been termed as 'Dravya'in Jaina philosophy. Six types of are considered in Jaina system. They are: Dharmāstikāya
Medium of motion
Adharmāstikāya
Medium of rest
Ākāśastikāya
Space
Pudgalāstikāya
Matter
Kāla
Time
6
Jīvāstikāya
Soul/ living beings
Out of the six dravyas including Pudgala, first five are Ajīvas (no life), and the sixth dravya is jīva (having life). Secondly except time, the remaining five dravyas are astikāyas, that is, they exist in continuum.
1.1 What is Dravya? Acharya Tulsi defines dravya as: "Guna paryāyāsrayo dravyam". This means, "the substratum of attributes / (guna) and modes (paryāyā) is dravya (substance). Umāsvāti in Tattvārtha-sūtra says, “Utpādavyaya dhrauvyayuktam sat". Sat means existent and existent is known to us through Dravyas (substances). Hence that entity alone, which is associated with and characterized by these, features namely: origination, destruction and permanence
Tattvārtha-sútra V.29
STUDY NOTES version 5.0
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