Panchastikaya
(पंचास्तिकाय)Literal Meaning
The five extended substances
Etymology & Sanskrit Root
'Pancha' (five) plus 'astikaya' (extended in space); jiva, pudgala (matter), dharma (medium of motion), adharma (medium of rest), and akasha (space) — the five fundamental substances constituting the universe.
Spiritual Insight & Context
'Dharma' and 'adharma' here refer not to morality but to physical media — one enables motion, the other rest, showcasing Jainism's distinctive scientific vocabulary.