Concept of Paryaya in Jain Philosophy

Author(s): S R Bhatt, Jitendra B Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

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22 Concept of Paryaya in Jain Philosophy The term Dravya denotes any existent which has the important characteristic of 'Persistence through change. In the Jain text it is said "A substance is that which maintains its identity while manifesting its various qualities and modifications and which is not different from existence." The point worth noting is that a substance is never devoid of modification and a mode is never without a substance. "A substance undergoes constant modifications." These aspects and descriptions of things are fully significant and absolutely logical. Thus two aspects of permanence and change are reconciled in the notion of substance "It is the most accurate description of reality of the actual states of things."4 Existent is defined as follows. "Existent is endowed with origin, decay and persistence."5 Existence comprises both substance and modes They are real. The notion of modes is inseparable from that of substance. Modes indicate changes in the persistent substance. "A real, consists of substance and its modes."6 " The central thesis of the Jainism is that there is not only diversity of Reals, but each real is equally diversified".7 "The conclusion is legitimate that each real is possessed of an infinite number of modes at every moment."8 Ontological and phenomenological designs cannot be bifurcated. Perhaps, existentialism echoes the same concept. The analysis of notion substance reveals that Reality is permanency in change. It may be noted that Jaina Concept in certain important respects bears a striking resemblance to Hegelian view of Reality in western thought. According to whitehead also Reality is synthesis of change and permanency. A substance undergoes changes and yet maintains its identity. Both Being and Becoming are real as both are the aspects of Substance. Though substance is undergoing modifications, essentially, substance does not change. Modifications occur only with reference to attributes. Birth and decay means a new condition is born or comes into existence and the old one goes out of existence. The philosophical traditions of India offer different models for the analysis of existents. Jaina position is realistic and non- absolutistic. Ontologically, Jain position can be best described as reality is identity in difference Shankara's Vedanta represents the philosophy of Identity or permanence which is antithesis to Buddhist view of flux. Buddhism upholds the doctrine of total impermanence or change without continuity. Jain view is synthesis of these two contradictory positions according to which both continuity and change are real. In other worlds