Six Universal Substances (Dravyas) (D10) 01/19/93 6SUBSTNS.A01
Complied by Pravin K. Shah, Jain Study Center of North Carolina
Six Universal Entities (Substances or Dravyas)
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Structural View Of The Universe
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Jain Philosophy does not give credence to the theory that the God
is a creator, survivor, or destroyer of the universe. On the
contrary, it asserts that the universe has always existed and will
always exist in exact adherence to the laws of the cosmos. There
is nothing but infinity both in the past and in the future.
The world of reality or universe consists of two classes of
objects:
Living beings (conscious, chetan, jiva) and
Non-living objects (unconscious, achetan, ajiva)
Non-living objects are further classified into five categories
matter (Pudgal)
space (Akas)
medium of motion (Dharmastikay)
medium of rest (Adharmastikay)
time (Kaal or Samay)
The five nonliving entities together with the living beings,
totaling six are aspects of reality in Jainism. They are also known
as six universal entities, substances or dravyas.
These six entities of the universe however do undergo countless changes,
but nothing is lost or destroyed. Everything is recycled in
another form.
The Concept of Reality or Entity or Substance (Dravya):
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A reality is defined to have an existence (Sat).
Each reality or entity continuously undergoes countless changes
known as origination and destruction. This is known as Paryaya of
a substance.
In the midst of changes its qualities remain unchanged which is
called permanence. This is also known as Gunas of the substance.
Hence every entity (substance or object) in the universe has three
aspects:
Origination - Utpada (continuous changes)
Destruction - Vyaya (continuous changes)
Permanence - Dhrauvya (permanent)
Both attributes (Gunas) and modes (Paryayas) are inseparable from
an entity.
The same principle can be explained differently as follows:
An entity is permanent (nitya) from the stand point of its
attributes or qualities (Guna). This is known as substancial
stand point (dravyarthik naya).
An entity is transient (anitya) from the stand point of its
forms or modifications (Paryaya). This is known as modal
stand point (Paryayarthik Naya).
A natural description of reality takes into consideration these
three aspects:
- permanence in the midst of change
- identity in the midst of diversity
- unity in the midst of multiplicity
The modifications that an entity undergoes refer to the various
shapes and forms into which a substance is transformed, either
naturally or artificially.
Examples:
A living being through the process of growth, undergoes various
changes, such as childhood, youth, and old age. These changes
are the natural modifications of the living being.
Childhood, youth, and old age are transient forms (Paryaya)
of a living being. The soul of a living being is permanent
(Dravya).
Clay is molded by a potter into various shapes. Gold is
crafted by a goldsmith into various ornaments. These changes
are artificial modifications of the nonliving being.
- ornaments and clay shapes are transient (paryaya)
- gold and clay are permanent (dravya)
While undergoing various modifications, either natural or
artificial, the basic substance remains unchanged and is permanent,
while the forms change and are transient.
The six universal substances:
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As explained above Jainism believes that the universe is made from
the combination of the six universal substances. All of the six
substances are indestructible, imperishable, immortal, eternal and
continuously go through countless changes.
Soul/Consciousness - Jiva (Living being)
Matter - Pudgala (Nonliving being)
Medium of motion - Dharma (Nonliving being)
Medium of rest - Adharma (Nonliving being)
Space - Akasa (Nonliving being)
Time - Kaal (Nonliving being)
Soul (Jiva):
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Its essential characteristic is consciousness. This is the only
knowing substance. It possesses perfect knowledge, perfect vision,
perfect power, and perfect bliss. It also possesses the property
of contraction and expansion like that of light. They are of
innumerable numbers. Living being can not be created or can not be
destroyed. The total number of living beings remain same in the
entire universe at all the time.
There are two types of Souls (Living beings):
Free (Mukta) Soul
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Free soul is defined as a pure consciousness, a soul that has
completely exhausted all of its karma. It is a liberated soul. It
is also known as Siddha. All siddhas are defined as Gods in
Jainism.
Liberated souls or Gods do not possess a body.
They possess perfect knowledge, vision, power, and bliss.
They live in Moksha, which is located on the top of Lokakas.
They never return again into the cycle of life, death, pain, and
pleasure.
There are an innumerable number of liberated souls.
All Tirthankaras and other Keval-jnanis become siddhas at the end
of their life (death).
Worldly (Samsari) Soul
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It possesses a body (plants, naraki, tiryanch, human, or angel) and
wanders into the cycle of life and death.
It is covered with karma particles.
It possesses limited knowledge, vision, power, and bliss.
It suffers from birth, death, pain, and pleasure.
There are a innumerable number of worldly souls.
It is the doer of all kinds of karmas (actions), and enjoyer of the
fruit of the karmas.
It is capable of becoming free from worldly life.
Worldly souls are divided according to the number of senses they
possess.
There are total five senses a living being may possess.
touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing.
One sense (Ekendria)
- possesses one sense - touch only
- it cannot move own its own accord
- they are subdivided into five categories
Soul possesses earth as its body - Prithvikaya
Soul possesses water as its body - Apakaya
Soul possesses fire as its body - Agnikaya
Soul possesses air as its body - Vayukaya
Soul possesses vegetable as its body - Vanaspatikaya
Two senses (Be-indriya)
A living being possesses two senses - touch and taste
ex. worms, leeches.
Three senses (Tre-indriya)
A living being possesses three senses - touch, taste, and
smell ex. ants, lice.
Four senses (Chau-indriya)
A living being possesses four senses - touch, taste, smell,
and sight ex. flies, bees.
Five senses (Panch-indriya)
A living being possesses five senses - touch, taste, smell,
sight, and hearing ex. animals, birds, human, heavenly, and
hellish beings, etc.
A soul with one to four senses does not a possess mind.
A soul with five senses may possess a mind.
Matter (Pudgala)
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It is matter or body.
It has senses (touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing).
They are of infinite number
It possesses color
It does not have consciousness or knowledge.
The smallest particle of matter is known as Parmanu (atom).
A paramanu occupies only one pradesa (unit of space)
There are four divisions of matter:
Skandha (whole-matter):
Any object which has a mass of matter can be called skandha.
ex. stick, stone, knife, a particle of sand
Skandha-desa (portion of matter):
Desa means a part, portion, or division. An undetached
portion of skandha is called skandha-desa When a part of the
skandha (skandha-desa) is separated from the whole, it also
becomes another skandha. A hand of a statue when undetached
is known as a skandha-desa but when separated from the statue
is known as Skandha.
Skandha-pradesa (smallest particle of matter):
The smallest undetached portion of skandha, which cannot be
further divided is called skandha-pradesa.
Paramanu or Anu (atom):
When the smallest portion of the matter is separated from its
skandha, it is called paramanu or anu. Parmanu matter can
not be further sub-divided, cut, or pierced.
Karmic Matter (Karma Pudgala):
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Karma is one of the categories of matter. It is known as
karmic matter (karma pudgala). Karma particles are of very
fine matter not perceptible to the senses. The entire
universe is filled with such karmic matter.
Every living being is covered by karmic matter from the
beginning of time. It is the karmic matter that keeps the
soul away from realization of its true nature or liberation.
Medium of Motion (Dharma)
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Medium of motion helps in the movement of soul and matter.
ex. water provides medium for fish to move
It does not possess senses, color, or body.
It does not have a consciousness or knowledge.
It exists in Lokakas.
Medium of Rest (Adharma)
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Medium of rest helps to rest soul and matter.
ex. People rest in the shade of a tree
It does not possess senses, color, or body.
It does not have consciousness or knowledge.
It exists in Lokakas.
Space (Akasa)
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Space provides room to soul, matter, dharma, adharma, and time.
It pervades everywhere (infinite).
It is the support of everything and thus it is self supported.
It has no form, color, taste, smell, and touch.
It does not perform any action (inactive), however it does
give accommodation to soul and matter of their actions.
It is one and whole.
Where medium of motion and rest substances exist, it is called
Lokakas.
The remaining space is empty and is called Alokakas.
Time (Kaal)
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There are two views exist in Jainism with regards to time.
One view: Time is an imaginary thing, it has no real
existence.
Another view: Time has a real existence consisting of
innumerable time atoms.
The changes in living being and non-living being substances
are measured in the units of time. However time is not the
cause of the changes to living being and non-living
substances.
The smallest indivisible portion of time is called Samaya.
Combination of samayas are: moment, second, minute, hour,
day, month, year, etc.
innumerable samayas = one avali
(time required to blink a eye)
16,777,216 avalis = one muhurt (48 minutes)
30 muhurts = one day
15 days = one fortnight
2 fortnights = one month
12 months = one year
innumerable years = one palyopama
1,000,000,000,000,000 palyopamas = one sagaropama
.