What is "anupadaka"

Anupadaka, anupapadaka, aupapaduka ( Skt., 'parentless; self-existing,') is a philosophical term about reality such as the 'anupadaka plane' or gods or Dhyani- Buddhas that fit the definition. Actually beyond anupadaka is ' adi (Skt., 'first,') having to do with the first cause, itself from causeless cause.

Hence, it does not matter if scientists think there are no gods or Dhyani-Buddhas: anupadaka is still an idea about something that is an effect of the first cause or causality. In that sense it may have to do with a scientific idea or the term can be applied to one: the term came to the West from Theosophy, which focuses on science as much as religion, and 'anupadaka' may have distinct meanings in Theosophy.