Ākāśa

Akasha (Sanskrit ' ) means aether in traditional Hindu cosmology. The term has also been adopted in Western occultism and spiritualism in the late 19th century CE. In many modern Indo-Aryan languages and Dravidian languages the corresponding word retains a generic meaning of "aether". The Hindu god of Akasha is Dyaus.

Etymology and meaning

The word in Sanskrit is derived from a root meaning "to be". It appears as a masculine noun in Vedic Sanskrit with a generic meaning of "aether". In Classical Sanskrit, the noun acquires the neuter gender and may express the concept of "aether" (Manusmriti, Shatapatha Brahmana). In Vedantic philosophy, the word acquires its technical meaning of "an ethereal fluid imagined as pervading the cosmos".

Indian philosophy classify Akasha into three categories. The first category, represented by the ''Nyaya,'' ''Vaisheshika'', Purva Mimamsa, and Jain traditions, considers Akasha to be an independent, all-pervading, and eternal substance essential to the structure of the universe. The second category encompassing the Samkhya-Yoga and Vedanta, views Akasha as an evolute of something else. The third category regards Akasha as a mental concept, a view particularly reflected in later Buddhist systems.

Hinduism

In Hinduism, ''akasha'' means the basis and essence of all things in the material world; the first element created. A Hindu mantra "''pṛthivyāpastejovāyurākāśāta''" indicates the sequence of initial appearance of the five basic gross elements. Thus, first appeared aether, from which appeared air, from that fire, from which water, and therefrom the earth. It is one of the ''Panchamahabhuta'', or "five gross elements"; its main characteristic is ''Shabda'' (sound). The direct translation of ''akasha'' is the word meaning 'aether' in Hinduism.

The ''Nyaya'' and ''Vaisheshika'' schools of Hindu philosophy state that ''akasha'' ( aether) is the fifth physical substance, which is the substratum of the quality of sound. It is the one, eternal, and all-pervading physical substance, which is imperceptible.

According to the ''Samkhya'' school, ''akasha'' is one of the five ''Mahābhūtas'' (grand physical elements) having the specific property of sound.

In the ''Shiva Purana'', it identifies ''akasha'' as having "the only attribute of sound".

In the ''Linga Purana'' (Volume I, Chapter 65), ''akasha'' is translated as "aether" and listed as one of the 1000 names of Shiva.

Jainism

Akasha is space in the Jain conception of the cosmos. Akasha is one of the six ''dravyas'' (substances) and it accommodates the other five, namely sentient beings or souls ('' jīva''), non-sentient substance or matter (''pudgala''), principle of motion (''dharma''), the principle of rest (''adharma''), and the principle of time (''kāla'').

It falls into the ''Ajiva'' category, divided into two parts: ''Loakasa'' (the part occupied by the material world) and ''Aloakasa'' (the space beyond it which is absolutely void and empty). In ''Loakasa'' the universe forms only a part. Akasha is that which gives space and makes room for the existence of all extended substances.

At the summit of the ''lokākāśa'' is the ''Siddhashila'' (abode of the liberated souls).

Buddhism

In Buddhist phenomenology, ''akasha'' is divided into limited space (ākāsa-dhātu) and endless space (ajatākasā). The Vaibhāṣika, an early school of Buddhist philosophy, hold the existence of ''akasha'' to be real. Ākāsa is identified as the first arūpa jhāna, but usually translates as "infinite space."

Ākāśa (Sanskrit: "space") holds two primary meanings in Abhidharma analysis:Buswell, Robert E; Lopez, Donald S. ''The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism'', p. 26. Princeton University Press, Nov 24, 2013.

# Spatiality: Ākāśa is defined as the absence that delimits forms. Like the empty space within a door frame, it is an emptiness that is shaped and defined by the material surrounding it.
# Vast Space: Ākāśa is also described as the absence of obstruction, categorized as one of the ''nityadharmas'' (permanent phenomena) because it remains unchanged over time. In this sense, it is likened to the Western concept of ether—an immaterial, luminous fluid that supports the four material elements (''mahābhūta''). Its radiant quality often serves as a metaphor for buddhahood, which is described as shining like the sun or space.

In meditation, ''ākāśa'' is significant in the context of the sphere of infinite space (''ākāśānantyāyatana''), the first of the four immaterial absorptions (''arupa''-'' dhyānas'').

Philosophically, ''ākāśa'' is considered one of the uncompounded phenomena (''asaṃskṛtadharmas'') in six Buddhist schools, including the ''Sarvāstivāda'', ''Mahāsāṃghika'', and later ''Yogācāra''. However, three schools, including the ''Theravāda'', reject this interpretation.

See also

* Ākāśagarbha – a Bodhisattva associated with ''akasha''
*
* Idealism in Vedic and Buddhist thought

References

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Classical elements
Hindu philosophical concepts
Hindu given names
Indian masculine given names
Masculine given names
Ākāśagarbha