Dr. Samani Mangal Pragya
In Jain philosophy the term used for universe is loka (cosmos). There are five astikāyas (homogenous continuums) or six substances including kāla in this cosmos. Pañcāstikāya is called as cosmos in Bhagavatī 'Pañcatthikāyā esa ṇaṁ evattiye loyetti pavuccai'[1] These five astikāyas are the only components of this cosmos. In Sthānāṅga, while describing the five astikāyas, dharmāstikāya (medium of motion), adharmāstikāya (medium of rest), jīvāstikāya (soul); and pudgala (matter) astikāyas are called 'Lokadravya' i.e. constituent of the cosmos and ākāśāstikāya (space i.e. medium of accommodation) is called lokālokadravya i.e. constituent of the cosmos and trans-cosmos. [2] In the ṭīkā of Sthānāṅga and Bhagavatī, being the constituents of cosmos, they are called as lokadravya.[3] It means that astikāya in itself is cosmos and besides this there is no existence of cosmos. One part of space and four astikāyas together are called as cosmos.
The description of the cosmos in Jain philosophy is available in the form of five astikāyas and six substances. There are four kinds of classification in Jain āgamic literature and they have been mentioned by Acharya Mahaprajna as following:[4]
- Two type of substances - Living and non-living.
- Five extended substances - Pañcāstikāya - medium of motion, medium of rest, space, matter and sentient beings.
- Six dravyas - medium of motion, medium of rest, space, time, matter and sentient beings.
- Nine realities (categories of truth): Living being, non-living being, auspicious karma, inauspicious karma, cause of influx of karma, inhibition of karma, dissociation of karma, bondage of karma and emancipation.
Jain philosophy deems - Living beings and non-living beings as fundamental elements.[5] Five astikāyas,[6] six dravyas[7] and nine elements[8] are expansion of these two. Five astikāya and six dravyas are analysed in the discussion of the world-order and their existence and nine realities are discussed on the spiritual plane.
