Concept of Matter in Jaina Philosophy

SR No.: 001663
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: J C Sikdar
Publisher: P V Research Institute Varanasi
Publication Year: 1987
Total Pages: 412
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Philosophy, & Physics
File Size: 23 MB

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The Concept of Matter in Jaina Philosophy
and avayavavāda (doctrine of constituent elements), while Atomism of the Buddhist schools? of thought like the Vaibhāşika and the Sautrāntika is supported on Ksaņikavāda (doctrine of momentariness), as they are the advocates of this doctrine. The Mimāṁsakas like Kumārila and Prabhākara and the Vedantin Madhva3 accepted Atomism on the basis of the atomic theory of the Nyāya-Vaisesika. The Vijñānavādin Buddhists 4 and the Brahmavādin Vedantin like Ācārya Sankara5, Ācārya Rāmānuja6 and others did not admit this Atomism. The Buddhist work "Vijñaptimātratāsiddhi? rejected the atomic theory of the Nyāya-Vaiseșika system of thought on the ground of constituent parts of atom (avayavas of paramāņu), while the Vedantin Ācārya Sankara8 refuted Atomism of the Vaišesika by following the foot-steps of the Vijñānavādin Buddhist under the influence of the Sāṁkhya doctrine of Praksti, buddhi (intellect), tanmätra (infra-atomic potential), etc. Jaina philosophy has conceived the atomic theory on the basis of destruction and origination of the material world from the standpoint of transformation taking place in it due to external and 1. See Śārkarabhāsya on Brahmasūtra (Vedāntadarśana),
adhyāya II, pāda II, sūtra 18, pp. 484-87; Abhidharmadipa, Vimalamitra p. 65; cf. Abhidharmakośa, Vasubandhu, Kośa
II, śloka 22, p. 29; Kośa I, śloka 12, p. 6. 2. ślokavārtika Kumārila, Sūnyavāda, śloka 261, 262, p. 301,
Prabhākara Mlmāṁsā, Prabhākara Bhatta, fp, 64-65, 67-68, 3. Pūrņaprajñādarśana, Madhva, pp. 67-68. 4. Bodhicaryāvatāra, śāntideva, Navama pariccheda, pp.
235-236, 28. 5. Sārkarabhāsya on Brahmasūtra, (Vedāntadarśana), adhyāya
II, päda II, Sūtras 11-17, pp. 459-84. 6. Śríbhāsya., Rāmānuja, adhyāya II, pāda II sūtra 11-17. 7. Vijñaptimātratāsiddhi, Vasubandhu, Kārikā Viņsatikā,
Vide Nyāyadarśana, Phaņibhūsaņa Tarkavegisha, fifth
part, p. 105. 8. Šānkarabhāsya on Brahmasūtra (Vedāntadarśana), adhyāya
II, pāda II, sūtras, 11-47, pp. 459-84.