________________
Jaina Conception of Matter
while Dravya is the transcendental Reality (atīndriya). In the Samkhya philosophy Sattva, Rajas and Tamas, the three components of Prakṛti are unmanifest, while the entities like earth, etc. are manifest. Müladravya (basic substance) is unmanifest and intangible, e. g. paramāņu (ultimate atom)1, while Dravyaparyāya (mode of substance) is manifest. Even among Dravyaparyāyas some are atīndriya (intangible to senses) and some are tangible, e. g. dvyaņuka (dyad)2, taijasa (luminous) and Kārmaṇa (karmic) bodies are atfndriya, while other skandhas4 (molecules) and effects of Matter are tangible to the senses (indriyagrāhya). So Dravya (substance) of the Jainas is unmanifest and beginningless, the Samkhya Prakṛti also is unmanifest and beginningless. Similarly the Santanas of the Buddhists and the Brahman and Atman of the Vedanta philosophy are beginningless. An entity becomes manifest only at the present moment with its perception.
The relation of Dravya and guna of Jaina Philosophy is further explained in this way that gunas can never exist independently of Dravya5 of which they are the attributes and one guna cannot be the substratum of another guna. The Vaiseṣika school also maintains that guna and karma are dravyasrita (inherent in substance). That which belongs is dharma (essential character) and that which supports is dharmin (substratum). In other words, that which is inherent in others is dharma (essential character or attribute ). The Vaiseṣika falls behind Jaina metaphysics in this respect of
1. Bhagavati sūtra. 20. 5. 670; TS. Bhāṣya Tikā, p. 366. 2. Gauḍapāda on Sāṁkhyakārikā, 12.
3. TS., II. 38, 39 and its bhāṣya.
4. TS., Bhāṣya. Ṭīkā, p. 366.
5. Sakalaguṇoparame punarna dravyaṁ
-
Jain Education International
Sattrimśikā, p. 3.
6. Dravyāśrayā nirguṇā guṇāḥ, TS., V. 40. 7. VS., 1. 1. 16 (Dravyasrayagunavan...guṇalakṣaṇam); Prasastapāda's Bhāṣya, p. 38; "Kriyagunavat samavayikāraṇamiti dravyalakṣaṇam, VS., 1. 1. 15.
For Private & Personal Use Only
7
Paramāņu khanda
www.jainelibrary.org
