Jainism a Glimpse

Author(s): Punyadarshanvijay
Publisher: Sanmarg Prakashan

Page 21

Dravya :
The cosmos has six Dravyas, Reals - Basic substances, Fundamental Realities:
1. JIVA : Soul - Life - spirit - innerself - conscious being (with Cētanā) with sentience, intelligent life.
AJIVA : Five kinds - without consciousness, Non Sentient.
2. PUDGALA : (Pud + Gala = Assimilation and Separation) Matter. The action and counteraction of getting together and separation.
3. DHARMĀSTIKĀYA : Ether - motion media.
4. ADHARMASTIKAYA : Rest media (modern science explains as gravitation and electromagnetic rest).
5. ĀKĀŚA : Space
(A) Alūkākāśa - Limitless space - Pure empty space, (B) Lokākāśa - limited but vast space (universe), in which the cosmos exists, (Outer limits of Ether).
6. KĀLA : Time - real, apparent and absolute.
These six Dravyas - basic substances are all pervading to the minutest part of the cosmos. They are permanent, eternal, uncreated and of immense magnitude but have continuous modifications (Paryāya) yet maintain their attributes, (Guna) inalienable qualities (Virtues) intact. Jiva and Pudgala are active, the remaining four are passive. 20