A compact blueprint of Jain cosmology emerges through the Dravyasamgraha’s meticulous breakdown of reality into six eternal substances (dravyas): soul (jīva), matter (pudgala), motion (dharma), rest (adharma), space (ākāśa) and time (kāla). By defining each dravya with crisp precision, the text threads the needle between abstract philosophy and vivid cosmic architecture.

Soul and matter receive especially close attention, setting the stage for understanding the soul’s journey through countless lifetimes across the three-tiered universe—the hells below, the middle realm of humans and animals, and the heavenly abodes above. Descriptions of dharma and adharma as the very “principles” of motion and pause still resonate today, much like how NASA’s Artemis missions rely on ground rules of physics to propel astronauts back to the Moon.

Space and time, often taken for granted, get their own due here: ākāśa isn’t a void but a necessary canvas that holds all activity, while kāla orchestrates change with relentless precision—reminding modern stargazers peering at James Webb Telescope images of galaxies billions of light-years away that cosmic evolution obeys universal rhythms.

Beyond serving as a taxonomy of substances, the Dravyasamgraha functions like a cosmic GPS. It points to how karmic particles cling to the soul, shaping every birth and rebirth, and explains why ethical conduct directly influences one’s place in the grand scheme. Even amidst today’s digital mazes—where virtual reality claims to “expand” consciousness—this ancient text invites a far deeper journey inward.

Familiar yet profound, the Dravyasamgraha stands as an elegant doorway into Jain cosmology: a reminder that understanding the universe begins with understanding the very building blocks of existence.