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

Page 202

Properties of Matter
TANGIBLE OR TACTILE ELEMENT ( SPRASTAVYA)
been
The aggregate of a class of combined atoms has called sprastavya (tactile or tangible); it is a substantial entity; it is not qualitative entity like that of the Vaisesikas. The objectivity of perception produced by the tactile senseorgan (skin) cannot be called the general characteristic of it, for, really speaking, that characteristic will become avyāpta (non-related or non-pervasive) in the tactile element which did not come into perception of any being. According to the previous procedure, all these-rupa (colour and shape), rasa (taste) and gandha (smell) being different, materiality (bhautikatva) also cannot be accepted as the general characteristic of sprastavya (tangible), for it will be avyapta in the tangibility like roughness or hardness, etc.
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This sprastavya is divided into eleven kinds, viz. pārthivasparsa (earthy touch), jaliya-sparśa (aquatic touch), taijasasparsa (fiery touch), vayaviya-sparśa (airy touch), mṛdutā (softness), karkasatā (hardness or roughness ), gurutva (heaviness), and laghutva (lightness), śītatva (coldness), vubhukṣā (hungriness or appetite) and pipāsā (thirst). Soft, hard, heavy and light and cold touches are common to both the Jaina and Buddhist traditions. As a result of particular closeness (sanniveśa) of the elements like earth, etc., there takes place the contact of the physical senses with particular condition, so one thinks of the necessity of heat; that of particular condition is śrtatva (coldness). Vubhukṣa means the desire to eat, this is a kind of mental element. It can never be included in the spraṣṭavya dharma (tangibility), belonging to Rūpaskandha (material aggregate). Hence, in this case of vubhukṣā it will be understood that there takes place in the animal body a kind of temporary transformation of earth-element in the inner part of the stomach. If there is the contact of the physical sense with that, there arises the desire of beings for eating. As that material transformation