Primer of Jain Principles

Author(s): Kirit Gosalia
Publisher: Kirit Gosalia

Page 12

PRIMER OF JAIN PRINCIPLES: (Shree Jain Sidhdhant Praveshika)
As translated by: Dr. Kirit Gosalia
Chapter # 1: The substance, the modes and the attributes.
Chapter # 1.1 The substance.
1.
What is a substance (Dravya)?
The assortment of qualities/attributes (Guna) is called a substance.
2.
What is a quality/attribute (Guna)?
One, which stays in all the parts, as well as in all the conditions of a substance, is called a quality/attribute.
3.
How many different types of attributes are there?
There are two types-- common and specific.
4.
What is meant by common qualities/attributes (Samanya Guna)?
The quality/attribute, which is present in all six universal substances, is called a common quality/attribute.
5.
How does one define a specific attribute (Vishesh Guna)?
Any attribute, which is present in only one universal substance but is absent in the other five substances, is called a specific attribute. How many common attributes are there?
6.
As such, there are many common attributes; but, for our understanding, we need only to consider six of them. These are as follow:
1. Eternal existence (Astitva) 2. Causal efficiency (Vastutva) 3. Substance hood (Dravyatva) 4. Objectivity (Prameyatva) 5. Eternal persistence / permanence (Agurulaghutva) 6. Extension into the space (Pradeshatva)