Answer

No. In Jain Dharma, space is not pudgala. Space is called ākāśa, and it is one of the six fundamental substances (dravya) in Jain philosophy.

Explanation

Jainism teaches six substances:

• Jīva — soul
• Pudgala — matter
• Dharma — medium of motion
• Adharma — medium of rest
• Ākāśa — space
• Kāla — time

So:

• Pudgala = physical matter, something that can be touched, seen, tasted, smelled, or felt in some form.
• Ākāśa = the space that accommodates all substances.

Space is therefore a separate reality, not a form of matter.

Spiritual Understanding

This distinction is important because Jain philosophy carefully separates what is material from what is non-material. Pudgala binds the soul through karma, while ākāśa simply provides the space in which all existence is situated.

Understanding this helps us see the precise and logical structure of Jain metaphysics.

Takeaway

Space is ākāśa, not pudgala. In Jain philosophy, it is a distinct substance with its own function.