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Dravyas: The Constituents of Physical Reality

Understanding Dravyas

In the Vaisheshika system, Dravya, or substance, is the basic building block of reality. It serves as the substratum for all other Padarthas, meaning that attributes and actions cannot exist without a substance to inhere in. For example, the color green cannot exist independently; it must be the green of something, a substance.

Types of Dravyas

The Vaisheshika system identifies nine types of substances:

  1. Prithvi (Earth)
  2. Ap (Water)
  3. Tejas (Fire)
  4. Vayu (Air)
  5. Akasha (Ether)
  6. Dik (Space)
  7. Kala (Time)
  8. Manas (Mind)
  9. Atma (Soul or Self)

These are types, not individual instances, encompassing both physical and non-physical entities.

Characteristics of Dravyas

Some substances are finite, or atomic, while others are infinite and all-pervading.

  • Finite Substances: Prithvi, Ap, Tejas, Vayu, and Manas. These are made up of innumerable atoms (Paramanu).
  • Infinite Substances: Akasha, Dik, and Kala. These are singular and all-pervading.
  • Atma: Though all-pervading, there are innumerable souls, each distinct.

Distinguishing Properties of Finite Substances

Each finite substance has a unique property that distinguishes it from the others:

  • Akasha: Possesses sound (Shabda).
  • Vayu: Possesses touch (Sparsha).
  • Tejas: Possesses color (Rupa).
  • Ap: Possesses taste (Rasa).
  • Prithvi: Possesses smell (Gandha).

Atomic Nature of Some Dravyas

Earth, Water, Fire, and Air are atomic, composed of indivisible particles called Paramanu or Anu. Two atoms combine to form a dyad (Dvyanuka), and three dyads combine to form a triad (Tryanuka), the smallest perceivable entity. Further combinations create the composite objects we see in the world.

Non-Atomic Dravyas

Space (Dik) and Time (Kala) are eternal and all-pervading. Space is experienced as diverse due to its different effects in different locations. Time is partless, but we conventionally divide it into now, then, yesterday, etc.

Mind and Soul

Manas (mind) is an internal sense organ that perceives internal phenomena like emotions and knowledge. It allows for self-awareness, the knowledge that we know.

Atma (soul) is the substratum of consciousness. In some traditions, consciousness is inherent in the soul, while in others, it arises only when the soul is embodied. The self is the observer of the universe and the locus of all cognition.

Conclusion

Dravyas are the foundational substances of reality in the Vaisheshika system, encompassing both physical and non-physical entities. Understanding the nine types of Dravyas, their characteristics, and their unique properties is essential to comprehending the nature of reality according to this system.

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