Plural of ajiva; in Jain philosophy, the non-living substances that exist in the universe, contrasting with jiva (living soul).
From Sanskrit 'ajīva' (a- meaning 'not' + jīva meaning 'life' or 'soul'). The term developed in Jain metaphysics to classify matter and non-conscious elements separate from sentient beings.
Jainism created an entire philosophical framework classifying the universe into living (jiva) and non-living (ajiva) components centuries before modern science distinguished between animate and inanimate matter—it's an ancient taxonomy of existence itself.
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