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Vol. No. XVII, No. 2
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Jaina religion has discussed scientifically regarding the form of the universe. The world is formed of six substances-Soul (Jiva), Matter (Pudgala), principles of Motion (Dharma), principles of Rest (Adharma), Space (Akäśa) and time (Kāla). These six substances form the world by their composition.15. Thus the universe has no beginning and no end. It is infinite. Therefore, there is nothing like God who creates or destroys this universe. The changes occur in the substances automatically. So substance is eternal with reference to its qualities and non-eternal due to its modifications. Jaina philosophers have described substance (Dravya) with quality (Gura) and mode (Paryāya). According to Jaina point of view any existent (Sat) must be seen on three levels firstly the modes, which last only a moment and belong to the qualities, secondly the qualities, which undergo changes and yet are inherent for ever in their substances and thirdly the substance, which remains the abiding common ground of support for the qualities and their modes. Out of these six substances soul is living and other five are non-living. Therefore, basically in the creation and continuation of the world these two substances--soul and matter--are primary.
The soul has to pass through various stages because of the findings born of the combination of the two principal substances--soul and matter. The soul has to pass through many stages and experience good and bad. It is called worldly life. If the process of the combination of soul and matter is obstructed and the bindings born of their combination are destroyed, then soul may reach its pure and free position. This is salvation of the soul. There are seven fundamentals controlling the whole process of worldly life and salvation. They aresoul (Jiva), matter (Ajiva), inflow of fresh karmic matter (Asrava), Karmic bondage (Bandha), checking of Karmic matter (Saṁvara), shedding of Karmic matter (Nirjarā) and liberation (Mokşa).16 With the addition of two more fundamentals of sins and virtues (pāpa and punya) there are nine fundamentals known to Jains Philosophy. According to Jaina philosophy the ultimate goal of soul is salvation. It is the final stage and the ultimate aim of each and every religious person. For this, self-realization and meditation with some code of conduct are prescribed in Jaina philosophical literature. In nutshell it is the essence of Jaina philosophy. All the characteristics and conducts of Jain religion are related to it.
According to Jaina ethics every living being is himself responsible for bearing the fruit of his good or evil deeds. It is the rule of nature in practical life also that the seed decides the kind of fruit. Jaina philosophy has reflected that one gets happiness by doing good deeds, and sorrow by doing evil deeds. Therefore, man should have good
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