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An Epitome of Jainism Gommața Sâra. For general remarks on the whole book, reference may be made to the Jiva Kânda *. Here only Karma Kânda will be dealt with.
The Six Substances Space and time are co-extensive and infinite. Space consists of the Universe (Loka), and the Non-Universe (Aloka). The Universe consists of two substances : Living (Jiva) and non-Living (Ajiva). The Living alone has consciousness, power to attend and to know. The non-Living has neither Consciousness, nor Attention, nor Knowledge. This is of five kinds : (1) Matter (Pudgala), e.g, table, chair, brick, stone, etc. (2) Principle of Motion (Dharma) which is an essential auxiliary of the motion of souls and matter. (3) Principle of Rest (Adharma), which is a similar auxiliary of the cessation of the movements of souls and matter. (4) Time (Kala), in virtue of which things become old, new, or continue in their existence. (5) Space (Akaśa), which gives their place or location to all substances. These six, Jiva, Pudgala, Dharma, Adharma, Kâla, and Akâśa, are called the six substances or Dravyas.
Dravya literally means flowing or continuing. It is so-called, because it flows or continues the same through all its modifications. It is called “Sat" or Existence also. Existence or substance is a collective name for a trinityunity of Birth (Utpâda), Decay (Vyaya) and Continuance (Dhrauvya).
Attributes (Guna) A substance further is a group of attributes and modifications. As there are six substances, some attributes are general or common; others are special.. Sámánya-guna or common attributes are found in all substances; these are the attributes which are necessary for the existence of the group, as a group or substance. These are infinite but six are principal : 1. Astitva, Is-ness: indestructibility, permanence, the capacity by
which a substance cannot be destroyed. 2. Vastutva, Functionality: capacity by which a substance has a
function. 3. Dravyatva, Change-ability: capacity by which it is always changing
in modifications. 4. Prameyatva, Know-ability: capacity of being known by someone,
or of being the subject-matter of knowledge. 5. Agurulaghutva, Individuality: capacity by which one attribute or
substance does not become another and the substance does not lose
the attributes whose grouping forms the substance itself. 6. Pradeśatva, Spatiality: capacity of having some kind of location in
space.
* Supra Book 5, pp. 94 to 138
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