Philosophy In Jain Agams: Concept of Universe in Jain Āgamas

The quest for the prime cause of the universe is also found in Jain āgamic literature. What is this universe? The reply given was - jīva and ajīva.^[1]  According to the Ṛṣhi of āgama, non-existent cannot be a cause for the universe. Existent is the reason for the universe but that existent also is not uni-dimensional. It is dualistic. Its nature is conscious and non-conscious. Jain philosophy is dualist in relation of the creation of the universe. Conscious and non-conscious beings have their independent existence. They do not emerge from each other. The world has been accepted as Pañcāstikāyamaya, by the expansion of these two tattvas.^[2] It is also called as possessed of six ubstances.^[3] As a matter of fact, the Pañcāstikāya i.e. five astikāyas and saḍdravyas i.e. six substances are expansions of jīvas and ajīva. Jain philosophy can be called as a dualist or pluralist in the context of the universe.

Many questions have been raised regarding the relation to priority and posteriority in the context of the creation of universe in Jain philosophy. Lord Mahavira negates the relation of priority and posteriority between them stating them to be beyond that.^[4] Lord Mahavira says that the cycle of the creation has continued since eternal time. The system of the cosmos has continued by its own laws. These rules are automatically followed by the multiformity of the interaction of jīva and ajīva.^[5]  God has no role in this process of creation.