Ajiva (Sanskrit) is anything that has no soul or life, the polar opposite of "jīva" (soul). Because ajiva has no life, it does not accumulate karma and cannot die. Examples of ajiva include chairs, computers, paper, plastic, etc.
>>>PUT SHARE BUTTONS HERE<<<
👉 Ajiva in the context of Jainism and non-creationism
According to Jain doctrine, the universe and its constituents—soul, matter, space, time, and principles of motion—have always existed. Jainism does not support belief in a creator deity. All the constituents and actions are governed by universal natural laws. It is not possible to create matter out of nothing and hence the sum total of matter in the universe remains the same (similar to law of conservation of mass). Jain texts claim that the universe consists of jiva (life force or souls) and ajiva (lifeless objects). The soul of each living being is unique and uncreated and has existed during beginningless time.
The Jain theory of causation holds that a cause and its effect are always identical in nature and hence a conscious and immaterial entity like God cannot create a material entity like the universe. Furthermore, according to the Jain concept of divinity, any soul who destroys its karmas and desires achieves liberation (nirvana). A soul who destroys all its passions and desires has no desire to interfere in the working of the universe. Moral rewards and sufferings are not the work of a divine being, but a result of an innate moral order in the cosmos: a self-regulating mechanism whereby the individual reaps the fruits of their own actions through the workings of the karmas.
In this Dossier
Ajiva in the context of Tattva (Jainism)
Jain philosophy explains that nine (Śvetāmbara tradition) or seven (Digambara tradition) tattva (truths or fundamental principles) constitute reality. These are:
- jīva – the soul which is characterized by consciousness
- ajīva – the non-soul
- puṇya (alms-deed) – which purifies the soul and provide happiness to others
- pāpa (sinful acts) – which impurifies the soul
- āsrava (influx) – inflow of auspicious and evil karmic matter into the soul.
- bandha (bondage) – mutual intermingling of the soul and karmas.
- saṃvara (stoppage) – obstruction of the inflow of karmic matter into the soul.
- nirjarā (gradual dissociation) – separation or falling-off of parts of karmic matter from the soul.
- mokṣa (liberation) – complete annihilation of all karmic matter (bound with any particular soul).
The knowledge of these realities is said to be essential for the liberation of the soul. The Digambara sect believes in the 7 tattvas only (all those that are listed except puṇya and pāpa), while the Śvetāmbara sect believes in all 9 of them. However, the Digambar sect includes the two tattvas within āsrava and bandha. Therefore, beliefs and philosophies of both the sects remain the same.