Dravya
concept in Jainism
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). 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.
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. The Vaisheshika school of Indian philosophy also deals with a concept of dravya.
Classification and importance in Jainism
Dravya in Jainism are fundamental entities, called astikaya (literally, 'collection that exists'). They are believed to be eternal, and the ontological building blocks that constitute and explain all existence, whether perceived or not.
Both Śvētāmbara and Digambara traditions hold that there are six dravyas which can be categorized into sentient and non-sentient:
Sentient
soul (jiva),
Non-sentient
matter (pudgala),
space (akasha),
motion (dharma),
rest (adharma),
and time (kala).
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