Jain Journal 1970 10

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 25

JAIN JOURNAL
A substance is an ultimate reality and is therefore defined as that "which supports (i.e. possesses) both qualities and a succession of mutations."?
All things of the universe can be grouped to form five ultimate substances as under :
(1) dharmāstikāya, that is, positive ether-substance. (2) adharmāstikāya, that is, negative ether-substance. (3) ākāśāstikāya, that is, space-substance. (4) pudgalāstiākya, that is, matter or material substance. (5) jīvāstikāva, that is, soul or substance possessing consciousness.
They are called 'astikāya' because each of them is not a single point but are homogeneous substances consisting of innumerable points.
Dharmāstikāya and Adharmāstikāya.
The existence of these two as fundamental entities is not accepted by any other metaphysical system except the Jainas.
In support of their contention, the Jainas argue that there must be a medium of motion. “For every motion, even the minutest vibrations the assistance of dharma is essential.”10 Such a medium must (i) be pervading the whole universe, (ii) be itself immobile, and (iii) be capable of assisting the motion of other mobile objects.
Dharmāstikāya fulfills the above conditions. It can be easily seen that here "motion” is understood to be relative and both dynamic and static states are conceived, since the acceptance of one pre-supposes that of the other. And so the existence of adharmāstikāya is also automatically established.
Substantially, each is a single homogeneous entity, indivisible but composed of innumerable points.
Spatially, each one pervades the entire inhabited universe (loka) but does not exist beyond it. In fact they are the cause of the finiteness of the inhabited universe.
? gunaparyayasryo dravyam, J. S. D., 1, 3. 8 dharmadharmakasapudgalajivastikaya dravyani, J. S. D., 1, 1. · Kala (time) is also included in the list of substances as the sixth entity, but
is not an astikaya. 10 Bhagavati Sutra, 13-4-481.