Philosophy In Jain Agams: Analysis on the term 'Astikāya'

The term 'astikāya' is derived from 'asti' and 'kāya' - asti means pradeśa and kāya means conglomeration. In this context, homogenous continuum of pradeśas is called 'astikāya'.^[1]'Asti' in the word astikāya signifies eternality. Thus, the continuum of pradeśa which has eternal existence is called astikāya.^[2]

Tattvārtha Bhāṣya mentions two reasons for adoption of the word 'kāya' in 'astikāya', which are as follows -

1. To express the multiplicity of pradeśas
2. To negate the addhā samaya^[3] (kāla)

There may be two meanings of the negation of addhā samaya:

1. To negate the existence of time (kāla) or
2. To negate the astikāya of time (kāla)

In the present discussion, it is intended to negate astikāya of kāla because in the very chapter, the writer has mentioned the functionality of time.^[4] Had there been the negation for the existence of time, then this mention of time would not have been possible in the same chapter. Though, the writer has created such sūtra which expresses that some ācāryas say kāla dravya.^[5] Thus, it seems that there were two conceptions regarding kāla (time) in that period. One was in the favour of accepting kāla as a substance and others did not. Kāla (time) has been considered as the mode of jiva-ajiva in āgamas.^[6] Probably Acharya Umaswati was the supporter of the above said conception. But it is for sure that no one has considered kāla (time) as astikāya.

Famous commentator of Tattvārtha Sūtra, Siddhasena Gani has presented a novel explanation of astikāya. According to him the term 'kāya' signifies origination and cessation. The term 'asti' signifies persistence.^[7] Thus, the term astikāya denotes three dimensions of existence. It is known from the word astikāya that five substances including dharma are eternal existents and they become the subject of change also. The astikāya of Jainism is not an absolutely static entity, like, the puruṣa of Sānkhya and the Brahma of Vedānta, nor is it completely momentary as Buddhist fluxists believe. Thus, the substance having origination and cessation with persistence is the ultimate truth.