Substance (7): Dik (Space)

Space is the seventh substance. It is an imperceptible substance which is inferred as the ground of our cognitions of here and there, near and far. According to Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika system, the existence of space is recognized as an external reality and it is perceptible as an objective reality about not a subjective form. Space is one, ubiquitous, eternal, partless and also it is known as the foundation of the world.^[1]

Viśvanātha gives the definition of dik as the cause of the notion of distance, nearness etc.^[2] This definition is more comprehensive and actual. Radhakrishnan opines that space is the instrumental cause of all effect.^[3] Annaṃbhaṭṭa defines dik as the cause of employment of words like east, west, north etc.^[4] He also points out in his Dīpikā that space is an instrument cause of all effects.^[5]

There is no special quality of space but it has five general qualities which are number, magnitude, distinctness, conjunction and disjunction.^[6] According to Annaṃbhaṭṭa, Viśvanātha etc. dik is one, all pervading and eternal.^[7] It has the largest size and it has conjunction with material substances, from which their special positions are recognized. There is also disjunction between dik and material substances. Though space is imperceptible, it can be inferred from the cognitions of different directions.^[8] Though space is one, owing to its adjuncts, it is regarded as ten-fold, viz., east, west, north, south, north-east, south-east, north-west, south-west, upward and downward. These names depend upon the position of the Sun. Space, in the direction of udayācala is indicated as east, in the direction of astācala is known as west, in the direction of the Meru is known as north, and opposite direction to the Meru is indicated as south. But actually space is one and non-different. These kinds of different directions are due to different upādhi.^[9]