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Mahāvīra and His Relevance
indivisible form, the cause of elements like earth, fire, water, air etc. and unsounding, is not a Kārya Paramanu (composed of further Aņu). It has one colour, one smell, one taste and two touches (either Snigdha positive electricity or Rūkşa negative electricity) and cold (Sita) or hot (Uşna).15 Bandh Union : It is also of two kinds. Forced (Prāyogika) and Natural (Vaisrasika). Union of matter with matter (lac and wood etc.) Soul and Kārmic matter (by the efforts of body, speech and mind) is of the first kind, while the lightning, clouds, 16 rainbow etc. are the instances of the second variety. The combination of Snigdha (positive charge) and Rūkņa (negative) formulates atoms or molecules.
Saukshmya-sthaulya : Fineness and grossness are each of two kinds (Antya) extreme and (apekshika) relative. The parmanu furnishes the example of extreme fineness, while the universe constitutes the example of extreme grossness (Mahaskandha). Material combinations of two atoms or numerable, innumerable or infinite atoms of all intermediary stages vary relatively to each other in quantity. The parmāzu of Jain Metaphyics aforesaid has no middle or end or Pradesa. It is indivisible. The atom of scientific parlour is according to Jain definition a Skandha (molecule) The scientists smallest atom of Hydrogen (H) can be called Vyāvahāra (practical usage) Parmā ņu. Its weight is 164X10-24 grams. Diameter=5X10-8 cm. Sansthāna is the shape of a body-Regular geometrical shape, circular, triangular, rectangular or irregular etc. as of clouds. BhedaDivision is also of six kinds : Utkatra-Seperation by sawing etc., Churna (powder viz. flour), Khanda viz. breaking into parts (eg. pitcher), Churnika-Chaff, Pratara (splitting of layers-in a sheet of mica) and Anucaru as the smithereens of blacksmith's workshop. 17
Tamas :—The Jain omniscients have also pronounced darkness to be a modification of matter. The hypothesis of the Naiyayikas and Vaiseșika (that (tama) darkness is only a negation of light) is not tenable. Jains have described darkness a positive reality possessing the property of vision and touch of coolness. The particles of matter on the availability of lamp etc. become bright and in its absence assume the modification of darkness.18 These
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