Jainism a Glimpse

Author(s): Punyadarshanvijay
Publisher: Sanmarg Prakashan

Page 20

heaven. (iv) Infernal beings in hell. And this cycle is run by the infallible mathematical mechanism of nature, moulded by the soul's conduct and deeds, committed by thought, speech or physical action in past or present life either with intensity of anger, pride, deceit, selfishness and greed, or with love, sympathy, fellow-feelings, pity, etc.
All Omniscient Teachers (Arhatas) from infinite past, present and infinite future will propound the same philosophy and show the way to attain eternal salvation (life of pure bliss) as friend, philosopher and guide having themselves practised what they preached
The Universe and its Constituents:
The basis for the constitution of the cosmos lay in the basic substance called Dravya or Reals in the Jaina Holy Scriptures. Every Real has three characteristics, Creation (Emergence), Destruction (Annihilation) and Permanence (persistence) "Utpāda, Vyaya and Dhrauvya with infinite qualities and sub qualities. It means that every substance possesses the quality of permanence (Dhrauvya), generation (Utpada), and decay (Vyaya) as modification of itself.
In order to clearly understand the characteristics of Dhrauvya we may take the example of gold bangles broken and made into a necklace with the same gold. The substance persists (Dhrauvya), bangle is destroyed (Vyaya) and necklace is created, (Utpāda). Every material object in the same manner is changing constantly. Yet the basic attribute (Guna), essential character, remains forever.