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FIFTH CHAPTER PROPERTIES OF MATTER
FIRST SECTION
GENERAL PROPERTIES OF MATTER
Properties of Matter are the characteristic qualities. According to Jaina Philosophy, Matter is endowed with specific characters of two kinds : those which are inherent in ultimate atoms as well as in aggregates (molecules) and those which are found only in aggregates. It is stated in the Jaina Āgama that Matter is characterized by colour, taste, odour and touch from the points of view of condition (bhāva)1. They are inherent in ultimate atoms as well as in aggregates of ultimate atoms as the specific properties. In addition to them, an aggregate of two units, or three units, up to that of infinite units of matter is possessed of the physical characters - mutual attraction and repulsion, fineness and grossness, shape and figure, divisibility, opacity and casting of shadows and heat and light energy.. They appear as the manifestations of Matter. On the basis of ths āgamic account of them the Post-āgamic works explain them in details. 1. Bhāvao vaņņamaṁte rasamaṁte gamdhamante
phāsamamate, Bhs., 2. 10. 118;
Sparśarasagandhavarṇavantaḥ pudgalāḥ, TS., V.23, p. 355. 2. Sauksmya-sthaulya-samsthāna-bheda-tamaśchāyä
tapodyatavantaśca, TS., V. 24, p. 356. 3. Sparsarasagandhavarnavantaḥ pudgalāḥ, TS., V. 23, p. 335;
Sparśaḥ rasaḥ gandhaḥ varņa ity evam laksanāḥ pudgalā bhavanti, TS., Bhā., V. 23, p. 355; Vannarasagamdhaphāsā paramānuparuvidā visesā hi Davvädo ya anannā aņņattapagāsagā homti, PS., 57; Varņagandharasasparśamayāścānantā pudgalāḥ, Vardhamānapurāņa of Ācārya Sakalakirti.
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