Compassionate Bhagwan Mahavir

Author(s): Purnachandravijay
Publisher: Diwakar Prakashan

Page 72

IOT TOX TOT 107 107/10
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independently in the universe. There are two important concepts in Jain metaphysics that needs understanding before we understand the substances - the astikayas and dravyas. The term astikaya is a compound word made up of asti and kaya which respectively mean existing and extensive magnitude. Therefore astikaya mean an existing substance that has extensive magnitude. Dravya means a real(substance) that is fluent or changing. The astikaya are five namely Jivastikaya, Pudgalastikaya, Dharmastikaya, Adharmastikaya and Akashastikaya. The sixth substance kala is not an astikaya. Now let us deal with each substance separately.
1. Jivastikaya (Living beings) : The most important and central element or substance of the universe is the animate living substance called the soul or Atma. There are infinite number of souls in this universe and each has a separate and unique identity. Since time immemorial the souls have coexisted with the universe and will forever co-exist. The innate quality of these souls is consciousness i.e. knowledge. This attribute distinguishes the animate being from the rest of the five substances which have no consciousness.
2. Pudgalastikaya (Matter): Matter is non-living, inanimate and non-conscious substance which has form and can be touched, tasted, smelled, seen and heard. In fact this is the only substance with form out of the six.
3. Dharmastikaya (Principle of motion): This principal is known as ether in science. It helps the Jiva and pudgala in their movement just as water helps the fish to move about. The tendency of movement is present in both. With the help of dharmastikaya movement occurs in living substances and matter and thus all things move and keep going forward.
4. Adharmastikaya (Principle of rest) :This substance is instrumental in helping the Jivas and pudgala to be still, to rest, to stand and to sit. This principle enables the soul and matter to remain stationary at one place just as the shade of a tree enables the traveler to take rest. If there was no principle of adharmastikaya soul and matter would continue to move forever. The principle of motion and principle of rest are exclusively Jain concepts and are not found in other schools of thought.
5. Akashastikaya (Space) : The fifth constituent of the universe is space. The characteristic of space is to give room to accommodate the other substances. The special feature of space is that it is not restricted to the universe called lok like the other five substances but the space extends to the nonuniverse (alok). Alok is vast boundless space where Jiva, pudgala, dharma, adharma and kala do not exist. The space in the universe is called lokakash.
6. Kala (Time) : Time brings about change in everything. The distinctive mark of time is its quality of causing modification in soul and matter. A young person turns into a young person and later becomes an old person. Here time is instrumental in bringing about this change. Time has its influence and effect even on material things. The new changes into old and the old eventually disintegrates. Thus time is eternal and the past, the present and the future are the different forms of time. History is the evidence of the existence of time.
Thus to summarize all six substances we can say that all are eternal, non-interchangeable and they can neither be added to nor subtracted. Though they are independent of each other they are assisting and accommodating each other in action and reaction. When the soul is struggling to free itself from the bondage of matter, time causes the modifications and gives hope in the future, the space provides the field, the principle of motion helps them to move and the principle of rest assists them to take rest.
Jai Jinendra
Pramoda Chitrabhanu 1111111111.11.11.11.11.11.11.11.11.11.2017
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