Basic Principles Of Jainism

Author(s): Narayan Lal Kachhara
Publisher: Narayan Lal Kachhara

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Many attributes co-exist in a substance but the modifications take place in succession. Co-existence indicates steadiness and occurrence of successive change represents dynamic nature of a substance. Modification is a continuous process and the modes come in existence one after another. A new mode cannot come in existence without the cessation of the previous one and a mode cannot cease to exist without origination of a new mode. The modification process is such that many cessations and originations take place in one 'samaya'. A 'samaya' is the smallest unit of time, a very tiny fraction of a second as described later. All these characteristics are typical of a substance.
Six Real or Substances.
According to Jain philosophy there are six (and only six) kinds of substances in nature.
(i) Dharmastikaya (or Dharama) - It helps motion of Jiva (life) and pudgala (matter and
energy) (ii) Adharmastikaya (or Adharma) - It helps Jiva and pudgala to assume rest position. (iii) Akasastikaya (or Akasa) - It provides accommodation to all other five realities. (iv) Pudgalastikaya (or Pudgala) - It means all matter and energy. (v) Jivastikaya (or Jiva) - It refers to atman, soul, associated with all forms of life. (vi) Kala- time.
All the six substances co-exist and accommodate one another. Although they are mixed with each other they maintain their separate identity. The suffix 'astikaya' used in first five real above refers to the property of spatial extension. These substances are homogeneous continuum composed of multiple parts or pradesas. A pradesa is the space occupied by one paramanu. The term 'astikaya' is a compound word made up of 'asti' and 'kaya' which respectively mean "(real) existence and extensive body. The term astikaya thus means a real extensive magnitude i.e. having plurality of parts, (pradesa) in its constitution. Kala is not an astikaya; it has neither extension in space nor plurality of parts. Each of these substances continues to exist as an entity eternally.
Attributes and Modes of Substance
A substance is always associated with certain attributes called gunas (qualities). A substance does not exist without qualities. Conversely, attributes also do not exist without a substance. The attributes discriminate between substances. Each substance has infinite attributes, without this the existence of a substance is not established.
The modes subsist in both the substance and the quality. They are infinite in number and transitional in nature. In other words, cessation of the precedent mode is followed by the origination of succeeding mode. The constant ongoing modification of a substance is called a mode. The modes are of two types - intrinsic mode (arth paryaya) and extrinsic mode (vyanjana paryaya). The intrinsic or substantive (attributive) mode is the intrinsic change in a substance which is subtle and continues without any external influence. The extrinsic mode (spatial
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