Jain Journal 2008 01 No 03

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

Page 38

142
object of knowledge (jñeya or prameya) etc. aryate gamyate parichidyate vā eti artham' i.e. the entity is cognized in the object. Similarly all other terms used are with the object of acquiring knowledge about them. Dravya is also called existent (vastu) as ‘vasanti guṇāḥ yasmin tat vastu' or an entity in which attributes exist is called substance.
3.
Number / quantity of dravyas.
There are infinite substances in this cosmos, but they can be all classified in six main categories namely:
:
Jiva Pudgala :
Dharma
Adharma
Ākāśa
Kāla
JAIN JOURNAL VOL-XLII, NO.3 JANUARY 2008
:
:
Living beings
Matter
Principle of motion Principle of rest
Space Time
It is significant to know that most of the philosophics of the world talk about Mono-ism or advaitavada i.e. only one type of existence and everything emanating from it. But Jain philosophy talks about duality of existence / reality i.e. it propagates Duopoly of existence of living and non-living beings. The Jains say that both living beings as well as non-living beings are existent and hence eternal truth and not imaginary or pseudo-reality is imagined. Similarly knowledge and object of knowledge, eternal and temporary, soul and supreme soul etc. are all existent and real.
We shall briefly discuss each of these now, Jain literature, however, discusses at length the nature of living beings and matter as these are primary substance types which are helpful in following the path of spiritual purification and attaining emancipation.
a. Jiva or living beings.
An entity with consciousness and its manifestation as