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It is quite astounding to learn the types of details which were very elaborately and scientifically described in the knowledge was derived from direct knowledge i.e. clairvoyance or omniscience while today our knowledge is indirectly derived through sense with usage of argument/hypothesis to establish a fact hence the theories keep on getting udated. It is also important to note that the scientific aspects formed and essential part of texts since description of universe is incomplete without it.
Jainism describes six primary entities (Dravya) which constitute the universe. They are Jiva or the soul, pudgala which is matter and has the properly of associating and disassociating. The description does not end here. The reason in very important. One cannot properly realise the soul unless he knows all the rest of the non soul along with their characteristics so that he does have any doubts in his mind and he can understand the reasons for the bondage of the soul. It continues now to describes the entities Dharmāstikāya and Adharmāstikāya which are quite unique and contrary to popular use of these words. The first one is defned as medium of motion like water for the fish, and the second one is described as the one which permits rest like the shade of the tree provides to the traveler. If one looks at them, one wonders why such entities were described at all. But they underline the scientific aspect of Jainism. The closest one identifies Dharmāstikāya is to Ether in modern day terminology for defining the medium through which electro magnetic waves traverse. Although concept of Ether has been discarded now, but the fact is such a medium does exist which provides for the transmission of electromagnetic waves hence concept of Dharmastikya is very much valid. Similarly Adharmastikaya is analogous to modern gravitational field which ensures the stability of the universe keeping it at rest.
The remaining two dravyas are no less interesting. One is kāla or time. While practical time is measured in hours and minutes, there is a real time which is described as occupying the entire universe like jewels at each spatial point individually. The beauty is that the kāla is not same at any two points (which is true!) and they are independent catalytic agents for manifestation of matter and soul. The last is ākāśa which is space and which is further divided into two as lokākāśa (universal space) and alokākāśa (infinite space). The lokakasha is bounded containing all souls and matter which is surrounded by infinite alokākāśa which does not support any matter or even time. Albert Einstein had also postulated the space to be bounded and not infinite since infinite space cannot sustain the energy. It is very interesting to know that the lokakasha perfectly fits his definition of bounded universe. The alokakasha is infinite which does not support any matter or even hence is unbounded like the postulation of Einstein!
Returning back to Jiva and Pudgala we would find no less surprising revelations. The Jiva exists in vegetables, plants etc. was told long before Prof. Basu proved it. The parmanu or the atom occupies infinitesimal space and joins with other permānus to create 74
Arhat Vacana, 19 (3), 2007
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