Cosmology Old and New

Author(s): G R Jain
Publisher: Bharatiya Gyanpith

Page 66

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COSMOLOGY OLD AND NEW
The nature and the characteristics of space are very fully described in Pañcāstikaya-sära of Swami Kundakundācārya. We reproduce below the Prākṛta Gathas with translation and part of the commentary by Professor A. Chakravarti.
93
सव्वेसि जीवाणं सेसाणं तह य पुग्गलाणं च । जं देदि विवरमखिलं तं लोए हवदि आयासं ।।
94
What contains or accommodates completely all jivas and pudgalas and the remaining dravy as is the world space or Lokākāśa. जीवा पुग्गलकाया धम्माधम्मा य लोगदोणण्णा । तत्तो अणण्णमण्णं आयासं अंतवदिरित्तं 95
11
Life, matter, the principle of motion and that of rest and also time, these are not distinct from the world. But that which is the same as the world and also distinct from it, is ākāśa or space which is finite.
COMMENTARY
The constituent elements of the world are the infinite number of jivas, and the infinite physical objects, the principles of motion and rest and space and time. Of these space contains the other five. The space which is co-extensive with these objects is called lokākāśa. But this is only a part of real space. Beyond the loka there is alokäkāśa or anantākāśa. This anantakāśa is pure space. There are no objects animate or inanimate in this Infinite Beyond. Not a tiny molecule of matter nor a stray jiva would step beyond the limits of loka. The system of objects is held together by the principles of dharma and adharma. And these principles are confined to lokākāśa.
Thus we have to note that mathematically pure space is recognised to be possible by Jaina thinkers.
Akāśa thus accommodates the other dravyas. Why should it not be taken also as the condition of motion and rest? The author shows why it cannot be such a condition.
आगासं अवगासं गमणष्ट्ठिदिकारणेहि देदि जदि । उडूढंगदिप्पधाणा सिद्धा चिट्ठति किध तत्थ ।।
96
93. Pancästikäya-sara (with Eng. Trans. & Eng. Commentary, edited.
by Prof: A. Chakravarti, S.B.J. Vol. III), p. 99-104.
94. Parcästikäya, gathā 97.
95. Ibid. gathā 98.
96. Ibid. gatha 99.