________________
INTRODUCTION.
Gommața-Sára, Karma-Kánda is really a complement of Shri Nemi Chandra Siddhánta Chakravarti's Jíva Kánda of Gommata Sára. For general remarks on the whole book, reference may be made to the Introduction to my translation of Jíva Kánda Volume Fifth of the Sacred Books of the Jainas. Here only Karma Kánda 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 5 kinds: (1) Matter (Pudgala) i. e., 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 (Kála), in virtue of which things become old, new, or continue in their existence. (5) Space (Akásha), which gives their place or location to all substances. These six, Jíva, Pudgala, Dharma, Adharma, Kála, and Ákásha, are called the six substances or Dravyas.
Dravya.
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 trinity-unity of Birth (Utpáda), Decay (Vyaya) and continuance (Dhrauvya).
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
