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This means that substance (dravya) is the indicator or representation of reality: sat is with origination, destruction and permanence simultaneously and substance is with modes and attributes. These will be discussed further in section 2.1 while discussing the characteristics of substance later on. Basically Jains talk of duality of existence / reality namely:
Living beings (j va) Non-living beings (aj va)
2.0 Need to know the nature and form of substance/dravya. As per Jain philosophy, this cosmos (loka) is another name of an amalgam of infinite substances. Therefore to know this cosmos, it is essential that we understand properly the concept and nature of substance (dravya). Without knowing the nature of substance, we cannot understand the characteristics of any entity properly / correctly. As the cosmos is said to be an amalgam of infinite substances, knowledge of the nature of substance will help us understand the entire process of origination, destruction and changes taking place in the cosmos better. One of the Jain c rya has gone to the extent of saying the foundation of all worldly or spiritual knowledge is the knowledge of the dravya itself.'
Crya Nemi Candra Siddh nta Deva, in the first gth (verse) of his text Dravya Sa graha, given below, says that the main reason of our worshipping the Jain preceptors (Jinendra Deva) is that they gave us the true description of the substances like j va living beings).?
J vamaj va davva ji avaravasahe a je a niddittha, Devi davi dava da va de ta savvad sisr
Meaning: We pay homage by bending our heads to Jinendra Rsabha Deva, who has delivered the sermons of jva (living beings) and aj va (non living beings) and who is adored by the entire community of heavenly gods,
Thus without having the knowledge of dravya, how can any body know correctly the supreme soul (Jinendra Deva). If one does not know the true nature of the supreme soul, how can one worship them properly and with all obeisances? Therefore, one of the most respected c ryas todate, Kunda Kunda says that the main reason to destroying delusion is to know the substance, its attributes and modes as given in the following verse.
Jo j adi ariha ta davvatta gu atta pajjayattehi; So j adi app a moho khalu j di tassa layas
Meaning: One who knows the supreme soul by its substance, modes and attributes, knows his-self and destroys the delusion in the process.
We therefore infer that the knowledge of substance, its modes and attributes enable us to have the correct knowledge of soul and supreme soul thereby destroying delusion, the root cause of all our problems. Hence it is not only important but also essential to have full knowledge of the nature and concept of substance.
2.1 Characteristics of substance/dravya. Dravya is a definitive term of Jain philosophy that in general represents an entity or an object. This is why Jain c rya Um Sv ti (2nd century AD) writes:
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