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Chapter-III
JAINA METAPHYSICS
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT
The doctrine of Pañcāstikāya which refers to the five constituents of the universe is regarded as the most original theory of Jainism, There is, of course, no mention of Pañcāstikāya in Ācārānga, but it is found in the Pārśva chapter of Rsibhāsita (c. 4th B.C.). This shows that this concept belongs to the tradition of Pārsva (c. gih B. C.). In the tradition of Mahāvīra, however, we find its first reference in Bhagavatisūtra (about c. 1* B. C.).
In Jaina philosophy the word Astikāya means the substance which exists (Asti) with an extension in the space, i.e., constituent component (Kāya). In Jaina philosophy Jiva, Dharma, Adharma, Akāsa and Pudgala - these five are regarded as Astikāyas from the very ancient times, and there is no change in this concept, even today. They can be translated as the living beings (Jiva), Space (ākāsa), Medium of motion and rest (Dharma-Adharma taken together) and Matter (Pudgala).
Among these five Astikāyas, three of them - Dharma, Adharma and Akāsa are thought of as unitary and remaining two - Jiva and Pudgala as infinite in number. From the c. 3rd - 10th A.D. there is no major change in the concept except that, with the development of the concept of Saddravya (the six-fold theory of substance), time (Kala) was also accepted as an unextended substance (Anastikāya). The debate whether time can be regarded as an independent substance or not begins with the c. 31° -4" A.D. or even before the composition of Tattvārthasūtra; and the difference of opinion in this regard continues up to the time of Višesāvasyaka
149 Jainism and its History
