Dravya

Classification of the six eternal substances

Dravya (Sanskrit: द्रव्य) means substance or entity. According to the Jain philosophy, the universe is made up of six eternal substances: sentient beings or souls (jīva), non-sentient substance or matter (pudgala), principle of motion (dharma), the principle of rest (adharma), space (ākāśa) and time (kāla).^[1]^[2] The latter five are united as the ajiva (the non-living). As per the Sanskrit etymology, dravya means substances or entity, but it may also mean real or fundamental categories.^[2]

Jain philosophers distinguish a substance from a body, or thing, by declaring the former as a simple element or reality while the latter as a compound of one or more substances or atoms. They claim that there can be a partial or total destruction of a body or thing, but no dravya can ever be destroyed. ^[3] The Vaisheshika school of Indian philosophy also deals with a concept of dravya.^[4]

^ Acarya Nemicandra; Nalini Balbir (2010) p. 1 of Introduction
^ ^a ^b Grimes, John (1996). Pp.118–119
^ Champat Rai Jain 1917, p. 15.
^ "Vaisheshika | Atomism, Realism, Dualism | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2 April 2024.

[1] Acarya Nemicandra; Nalini Balbir (2010) p. 1 of Introduction

[grimes-2] Grimes, John (1996). Pp.118–119

[FOOTNOTEChampat_Rai_Jain191715-3] Champat Rai Jain 1917, p. 15.

[4] "Vaisheshika | Atomism, Realism, Dualism | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2 April 2024.

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