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14
Nagin: J. Shah
For them the terms dik' and 'akasa are synonyms referring to the same substance.
2. Jaina Description of Akāśa
As we have already remarked, Jainas do not regard it as a mode or an effect of mahābhūtas. For them it is an indepedent fundamental substance, It is devoid of colour, odour, taste and touch. According to Jainas sabda is a mode of mahabhutas or matter (pudgala). Aggregates (skandhas) of atoms strike against one another and sabda is produced from them. Hence sabda is not the nature of akasa, nor is it its quality. If sabda were its quality, the quality of akata being formless or nonphysical, it would not have been heard through the organ of hearing, say the Jainas. Akasa is infinite in extents, it is present everywhere, it stretches not only over the universe but also far beyond it over the non-universe. All other substances are confined to the universe only. Thus no substance is so extensive as ākāśa is. The pervasiveness of akaśa is infinite. Akasa is one in number," It is a onemembered class, so to say. There is no possibility of increase or decrease in its number. It is one and will remain one for ever, lo It is eternal in the sense that it never gives up its nature.11 As it is present everywhere in the universe, the possibility of movement from one place to another is rejected in its case,1a
3. Function of Akasa
The function of akusa is to afford room to other substances, 18 Other substances exist by their own nature. There is no doubt about it. But they require something to exist in. They do exist by themselves. But wherein do they exist? They exist in akaśa. Their existence is not the same as akasa. Nor is akata an aspect of them. It is a fundamental substance different from them. Thus akāśa is a universal container in which all other substances are contained,
5 अजी काया धर्माधर्माकाशपुद्गलाः । क्रव्याणि । तत्त्वार्थसूत्र, ५. १-२
6 सद्दो सो पोलो चित्तो । प्रवचनसार, २. ४०
7 पञ्चास्तिकायतात्पर्यवृत्ति, गाथा ७६
8 सर्वतोऽनन्तं हि तत् । सर्वार्थसिद्धि, ५, १२ 9 आ आकाशादेकद्रव्याणि । तत्त्वार्थसूत्र, ५. ६ 10–11 नित्यावस्थितान्यरूपाणि । तत्त्वार्थसूत्र ५. ४ 12 निष्क्रियाणि च । तत्त्वार्थसूत्र ५. ७ 13 आकाशस्यावगाहः । तत्त्वार्थसूत्र ५. १८
