This should not be confused with the dharm which we commonly refer to as "Nature of self soul", "Ahimsa" etc.
Dharma dravya is one amongst the 6 dravyas or substances as per Jainism.
It is the substance which helps in the motion of the other dravyas.See, dharm dravya itself doesn't moves other substances viz soul or pudgal, but if a soul or pudgal moves then it is helpful in its movement.Take for eg: Track of the railways.
Well tracks do not move the train but help the train to move and without the track a train cannot move, and so though train and track are two separate and different entities but then also the movement of train is helped by track.
So is the relation of dharm dravya with the other dravyas.Thought alll dravyas are separate or independent but these kind of relationship is seen.
"Dharmaastkaaya bhaav" (from Tattvartha sutraji)- means a soul will go upto the top of this Lokakash and not beyond it as there is no dharm-dravya beyond it.That is why Sidhha bhagwan stops at the topmost part of the lokakash.
Similarly adharma-dravya is the substance which helps the souls and pudgals to stop.
Dayanand Saraswati in his book "Satyarthaprakash" criticises the concept of dharm and adharm dravya, as he says that these cannot have independent existence and are carrieed by the souls themselves.But, it can be seen that he is confusing with the dharm and adharm with the dharma- dravya and adhrama- dravya.
Dr. Amit Prakash Jain
