Concept of Paryaya in Jain Philosophy

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

Page 94

82 Concept of Paryaya in Jain Philosophy defined in the Illuminator of Jaina tenets" (I.J.T.) by Ganadhipati Tulsi as 'Saddravyatmako lokah'. (1.8). That (space) which comprises (and accommodates) the six substances is called 'loka' (cosmos). These six substances are: (1) Dharmastikaya - the auxiliary cause of motion, (2) adharmastikaya - the auxiliary cause of rest, (3) akasastikaya - space, (4) pudgalastikaya - matter (5) jivastikaya - souls and (6) kala - time. 5.7. The Jaina canons have described in detail the structure, the shape, the measurement and the contents of loka. Jaina Philosophy firmly believes that loka has neither beginning nor end; it is infinite (sasvata). It is not created by any agency such as God or anybody else. It is there. If it were created by God or any such agency, then the question will arise - who created God or that agency ? If some other entity were responsible for the creation of that agency who created God, then who created that entity ? This will lead to absurd logic (ad absurdum) or to ad infinitum. 5.8. According to Jaina cosmology, space or akasa is divided into two categories - lokakasa and alokakasa. Lokakasa (cosmic) is eternal and finite having definite shape and size and consists of all the six substances (including space). Alokakasa (supra-cosmic) is infinite; it is that void or blank space where there are no other living or non - living substances. 5.9. Let us compare the Jaina view with that of some well - known scientific theories. 5.9.1. First Let us see whether the universe is changing or unchanging. "The laws of gravity are incompatible with the view that the universe is unchanging, because the fact that gravity is always attractive implies that the universe must be either expanding or contracting. According to the general theory of relativity, there must have been a state of infinite density in the past, the big bang, which would have been an effective beginning of time. Even if the whole universe did not recollapse, there would be singularities in any localized regions that collapsed to form black holes. These singularities would be an end of time for anyone who fell into the black hole". (A brief history of time p. 189). 5.9.2. The Jaina definition of dravya, i.e. substance, makes it liable to-change-through-persistence. We have seen that the three essential characteristics of a substance is utpad (creation), vyaya (destruction) and