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CONCEPT OF DRAVYA (SUBSTANCE). IN JAIN
PHILOSOPHY
Dr Veer Sagar Jain
1. Need to know the nature and form of substance/dravya.
As per Jain philosophy, this cosmos (loka) is another name of an amalgam of infinite substances. Therefore to know this cosmos, it is essential that we understand properly the concept and nature of substance (dravya). Without knowing the nature of substance, we cannot understand the characteristics of any entity properly / correctly. As the cosmos is said to be an amalgam of infinite substances, knowledge of the nature of substance will help us understand the entire process of origination, destruction and changes taking place in the cosmos better. One of the Jain ācāryas has gone to the extent of saying that the foundation of all worldly or spiritual knowledge is the knowledge of the dravya itself.'
Ācārya Nemicandra Siddhāntadeva, in the first gāthā (verse) of his text Dravyasangraha, given below, says that the main reason of our worshipping the Jain preceptors (Jinendradeva) is that they gave us the true description of the substances like jīva (living beings).?
jīvamajīvam davvam jiņavara-vasahena jena niddițțham. Devirda-vinda-vandam vande tas savvadā sirasā.
“We pay our homage by bending down our heads to Jinendra ķaşabhadeva, who has given us the sermons of jīva (living beings)
1. Anena dhimăn vyavahāramärga huddhvă punarhodhati suddhamārgama.
Niyama Sāra kalasa52. 2. Dravyasamgraha - 1
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