How Jainism defines the Universe?

The Jain philosophy has described this universe as two different entities. They are Lok (universe) and Alok (outer world or sky). Jiva (animate object) and Ajiva (inanimate object) both together constitute Lok. It is the Lok where creation (srishti), equilibrium (sthiti) and destruction (vinash), the three worldly activities are occurring every moment all over the universe making it dynamic. Alok – Outside this world, there is infinite vacuum which is visible in the form of sky. Only sky comes under Alok. The space here is endless. There is no living or non-living object found in this part of the universe.

   Jiva cheba ajiva ya eso loye biyahiye I

    Ajivadesamagase aloe se biyahiye II                     (Uttaradhyan Sutra 36/2)

The meaning of this sutra is where jiva exists, ajiva also exists. Jiva and Ajiva together constitute Lok. The space where only sky exists that is known as Alok. 

The Jain Metaphysics is based on Navtattva or nine cardinal principles and chat Dravya or six substances. The principal aim of Jainism is the attainment of soul from the social bondages and make it free to attain liberation. This can be achieved through perfect evolution. But this will be possible only when one realizes the existence of soul, its attributes, how it has been compelled to bear the agonies of existence from birth towards death and again another birth. This will help to find a pathway of freeing the soul from this wheel of birth and death. To know all these, one has to learn about the constituent elements of this world, their mutual relations, the why and how of the soul’s bondage and the means of its release. All these knowledges are classified as Navtattva or nine cardinal principles. They are: 1) Jiva or conscious soul, 2) Ajiva or inconscient matter, 3) Punya or virtue, 4) Paap or sin, 5) Asrava or the influx of karma, 6) Bandha or bondage, 7) Samvara or arrest of the influx of karma, 8) Nirjara or exhaustion of karma and 9) Moksha or liberation. From spiritual point of view, there are three types of tattvas. They are: 1) Jneya, 2) Heya and 3) Upadeya. Under Jneya comes Jiva and Ajiva. Under Heya comes Paap, Asrava and Bandha. Under Upadeya comes Punya, Samvara, Nirjara and Moksha.

             Jivajiva bhava punyam paapam cha ashravam tesing

            Samvara-nijjara-bandho moksha cha havanti te attha.        (Panchastikaya 208)

The concept of Dravya is central to Jain ontology. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the nature of existence. Ontology is the branch of philosophy that deals with the nature of being. It is about the object of inquiry. It seeks the classification and explanation of entities. It is a set of concept and categories in a subject area or domain that shows their properties and the relations between them.

Jainism views dravyas as having inherent qualities (guna) and existing in different modes or states (paryaya) over time and it emphasizes the importance of recognizing and understanding these qualities and modes in order to achieve spiritual liberation. According to Jain philosophy, the universe is composed of six fundamental verities or dravyas or substances. They are alternatively known as chat Dravya. The six dravyas are as follows: Jiva (soul), dharma (principle of motion), adharma (principle of rest), akasha (space), pudgala (matter), and kaal (time).