Physics in Jainism
Physics is the science that studies matter, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. Physics is one of the most fundamental scientific disciplines, and its main goal is to understand how the universe behaves.
Shat-Dravya( Six-Substances )
According to Jainism, five types of non-living substances together with the living substance constitute the six substances or Shat-Dravya as it is called. These Shat-Dravya make up this universe. They pervade the entire universe and they undergo change every moment in accordance with their qualities. There is no agent who creates or destroys the universe. The universe governs itself requiring no agent. Its constituent six substances have natural dynamism that helps the universe sustain and govern itself.
We have already covered the living substance or the soul or Jiva in great details in various articles. Here we will look at the non-living.
The Non-living Substances
Substance that do not have any Jiva (soul) are called Ajiva. Whatever that does not have consciousness, vitality and life forces are non-souls. E.g. table, chair, bed, clothes etc. The human body is also Ajiva. When the soul living in this body departs, we call it dead. There are five types of non-living substances as follow:
1. Dharm-astikaya (Medium of motion),
2. Adharm-astikaya (Medium of rest),
3. Akash-astikaya (Space),
4. Kaal (Time) and
5. Pudgal-astikaya (Matter)
1. Dharm-asti-kaya (Medium of Motion)
The medium which helps in supporting the motion of Jivas (Souls) and Pudgala (matter) is known as Dharmastikaya. That is although the souls and matter have got capacity of moving, yet, they cannot move unless the medium of motion is present in the universe. The medium of motion does not create motion but only helps those who already have the capacity of moving. It is the medium through which motion takes place. As for instance, a fish swims in water. Here water does not create swimming but it only helps the fish that has developed the tendency of swimming. As water helps fish to swim, Jivastikaya and Pudgalastikaya are helped by Dharmastikaya when the formertends to move. This medium is an immaterial substance possessing no consciousness. It is permanent as well as fixed and one. Anything can penetrate it without any obstruction. It consists of innumerable ‘pradeshas’ because the universe-space possess countless spatial units.
2. Adharm-asti-kaya (Medium of Rest)
The medium which helps in supporting the rest position or steadiness of Jivas (Souls) and Pudgala (matter) is known as ADHARMASTIKAYA. That is although the souls and matter have got capacity of remaining steady, yet, they cannot remain so unless the Medium of Rest is present in the universe. It is a single immaterial substance pervading throughout the universe. As a tree is helpful to a tired person who is coming from a far distance in the hot sun and wants to have some rest under it; and also as an old man is helped to rest by the stick in his hand, so is the nature of Adharmastikaya to help the souls and matter when they take rest.
There could not be a stable world if there was nothing to prevent the souls and matter from flying about and being scattered throughout the infinite space.
3. Akash-asti-kaya (Space) :
The medium which provides space for all other substances (Jiva, Pudgala, etc.) is known as Akashastikaya. It is in its nature to accommodate everything. The part inhabitated by the other substances is Lok-akasha , whereas the empty space which extends infinitely beyond the physical world is known as Alok-akasha. Akasha or Space is all pervading and eternal. In the infinite beyond there are no objects animate or inanimate. Not a tiny molecule of matter nor a stray soul would step beyond the limits of the Loka.
4. Pudgal-asti-kaya (Matter)
The term ‘Pudgala’ is made of two root words viz. ‘pud’ meaning ‘to grow, to develop,’ and ‘gala’ meaning ‘to decay’. These particles join and create new things. The decaying is by separating or disassociation from others.
These particles lead to the sense of colour, smell, taste and touch. All visible things in this world, the things that you can feel and the thing that you can hear are due to Pudgalastikaya.
5. Kaal (Time)
Time brings change, makes new things old. It lets us know the existence of things. e.g. infant, Child, Teenager, Adult, etc. The Longevity is counted by time and also the young and elderly are known through time. New-old, fast-slow, etc. are also known through time. All actions like movements, eating, etc. can be gauged with the help of time. A seed grows into a tree, a child grows into a teenager, old person, etc. can be gauged through time.
Panch-Asti-Kaya( Five Asti-Kaya )
Out of the six substances or the Shat-dravya, five of them are together referred to as Panch-Asti-Kaya. These are:
- Jivastikaya
- Dharmastikaya
- Adharmastikaya
- Akash-Astikaya
- Pudgal-astikaya
What is asti-kaya?
Asti - a spatial unit + Kāya - group. Thus astikāya means a group of spatial units. In other words astikāya means a substance having a collection of spatial units well combined with one another.
Asti-kaya has 4 constituents:
- Skandh — the whole part
- Desh — Any sub-part of the whole
- Pradesh — The smallest indivisible part
- Parmanu — The smallest indivisible part that is separated out from the whole.
Out of the five asti-kay, only Pudgala has Parmanu i.e. where the smallest indivisible particle can exist outside the whole.
Let’s understand this with an example of Laddoo ( Sweetball ). Skandha refers to the entire Laddoo. Any part lesser than the whole is calleed as Desha. The smallest grain of the Laddoo is called Pradesha. Parmanu would be the smallest grain separated out from the Laddoo.
Q: Why is there no parmanu for Jiva-astikaya, Dharm-astikaya, Adharma-astikaya and Akasha-astikaya?
A: For Jiva-astikaya, Dharm-astikaya, Adharma-astikaya and Akasha-astikaya, not a single particle can be separated out from the whole. Hence these do not have parmanu.
Q: What is the reason to create a distinction between Skandh, Desh and Pradesh
A - These three distinctions are very useful to understand the existence of innumerable and infinite microscopic parts of these Skandh
Q: Which is bigger — Pradesh or Parmanu?
A - Pradesh and atom have the same measurement. Neither is small or big, but being bound with a Skandh is called a Pradesh and being separated is called an Parmanu(atom).
