Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 2

Author(s): G C Chaudhary
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 68

JAINA CONCEPTION OF REALITY, i.e. DRAVYA
Dr. J. C. SIKDAR
Introduction A critical study of the Jaina canonical texts reveals that Meta. physics is something which is correlated with Physics, but the metaphysical inquiry goes beyond the scope of Physics.
According to the metaphysical principle as laid down in the Jaina canonical works, the Universe (Loka) is a system of reals, all interrelated with one another with regard to Dravya (substance), Ksetra (locus or field), Kāla (time) and Bhāva (condition or state or mode), having a fundamental unity comprising the plurality of interdependent and interconnected substances.
As for example, it is clearly explained in the Bhavgati Vyākhyā. prajñapti? that there are stated to be four aspects of the Universe (Loka) from the points of view of Dravya (substance), Kşetra (locus or field), Kāla (time) and Bhāva (condition or state or mode) respectively, i. e. a system of reals is studied with regard to substance, locus (or field), time and condition (or state) respectively.
The Universe (Luka) is finite with regard to Dravya (substance), as it is one in nuinber; it is also finite with regard to Kșetra (locus or field), having the dimension of length and breadth of countless crores of yojanas; it is infinite, permanent, continuous, undecaying, stable (or fixed), eternal and endless with that to Kala (time), for it is traikalika (i. e. was, is and will be in the present and future times respectively); there was not, is not and will not be such a time when the existence of the Universe was not, is not and will not be continuous respectively; it is also infinite with regard to Bhāva (condition or state or mode) because the modes of Lokadravyas (the substances of the Universe), such as, modes of colour, smell, taste and touch, figure, heaviness and lightness, and neither heaviness nor lightness, etc., of Pudgala (Matter) are infinite.? Similarly, it is further explained that the Universe (Loka) is eternal from the point of view of Trikāla (past, present and future) and non-eternal from that of the cycles of Avasarpipi (descending Ages in the cycle of time) and Utsarpiņi (ascending ages in the cycle of time) respectively. Because there was, is and will be no such time in the cycle of Trikala when this Universe (Loka) was not, is not and will not be in any form; but it is non-eternal, for it does not exist in one form. There takes place the evolution of regress and progress in it due to the