Astikaya, Asti-kaya, Astikāya: 8 definitions
Introduction:
Astikaya means something in Jainism, Prakrit, Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Jainism
Jain philosophy
Source: archive.org: Anekanta Jaya Pataka of Haribhadra SuriAstikāya (अस्तिकाय) refers to an “aggregate of pradeśas”, as occurring in the Anekāntajayapatākā-prakaraṇa, a Śvetāmbara Jain philosophical work written by Haribhadra Sūri.—[Cf. Vol. I, P. 370, l. 23]—‘Astikāya’ is usually interpreted as an aggregate of pradeśas. All the dravyas except time are so designated, and hence their number is five according to the Śvetāmbaras and the Digambaras as well.
The five astikāyas are:
- jīva-astikāya,
- dharma-astikāya,
- adharma-astikāya,
- ākāśa-astikāya and
- pudgala-astikāya.
-
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: Atma Dharma: Principles of JainismThe substance which has manifoldness of space units (pradeshas) is called astikaya.
How many substances are astikaya?
- Soul,
- matter,
- ether,
- anti-ether and
- space.
These five substances are astikaya, i.e., having more than one spatial unit (pradesha).
Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 5: The category of the non-livingAstikāya (अस्तिकाय) refers to “existent body ” according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 5.1.—A substance which has existence and is with many space-points is called existent body (astikāya).

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryAstikāya (अस्तिकाय).—[asti kāyaḥ svarūpaṃ yasya] a category or predicament (with the Jainas); these categories are 5; -जीव°, पुद्गल°, धर्म° अधर्म° (jīva°, pudgala°, dharma° adharma°), and आकाश° (ākāśa°).
Derivable forms: astikāyaḥ (अस्तिकायः).
Astikāya is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms asti and kāya (काय).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryAstikāya (अस्तिकाय):—[=asti-kāya] [from asti] m. an ontological category (of which five are distinguished, viz. jīvāstikāya, ajivāst, dharmāst, adharmāst, pudgalāst), [Jaina literature]
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusAstikāya (ಅಸ್ತಿಕಾಯ):—[noun] (Jain.) any of the soul, righteousness, unrighteousness, the sky.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Astikayam.
Full-text: Adharmastikaya, Akashastikaya, Dharmastikaya, Jivastikaya, Astikayam, Pudgalastikaya, Attikayam, Paramanu, Akacastikayam, Civattikayam, Atarmastikayam, Ajivastikayam, Kala Dravya, Pudgala, Dravyavargana, Ajiva.
Relevant text
Search found 17 books and stories containing Astikaya, Asti-kaya, Asti-kāya, Astikāya; (plurals include: Astikayas, kayas, kāyas, Astikāyas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Bhagavati-sutra (Viyaha-pannatti) (by K. C. Lalwani)
Part 1 - On astikāyas < [Chapter 10]
Chapter 10: Account of Kālodāi < [Book 7]
Introduction to book 2 < [Book 2]
Brahma Sutras (Ramanuja) (by George Thibaut)
Sutra 2.2.31 < [Second Adyaya, Second Pada]
Uttaradhyayana Sutra (by Hermann Jacobi)
Glimpses of History of Sanskrit Literature (by Satya Vrat Shastri)
Chapter 29.2 - Introduction to Jainism and its philosophy < [Section 4 - Classical Sanskrit literature]
Jain Science and Spirituality (by Medhavi Jain)
2. Ancient Jaina Texts < [Chapter 2 - Review of Literature]
2.1. Concept of Space (Introduction) < [Chapter 5 - Science in Jainism]
3.4. Reason of Time Being a Substance < [Chapter 5 - Science in Jainism]
A study of the philosophy of Jainism (by Deepa Baruah)
Chapter III.d - Division of jaina categories or substances < [Chapter III - Categories]