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SEVENTH CHAPTER
CLASSIFICATION OF MATTER
In Jaina Philosophy Matter is classified into one, two, three, four, six, twenty-three, five hundred thirty and infinite groups from the points of view of (1) dravya (substance), kṣetra, (field), kāla (time) and bhāva (condition), (2) atomic and molecular forms of existence, (3) apprehensibility and inapprehensibility, receivability and non-receivability, etc., (4) transformation, (5) parts of molecule, (6) grossness and fineness of matter, (7) vargaṇā (the group having the same numerical value), (8) prominence of particular quality of matter, (9) jāti (category), part of quality (guṇāṁśa) and mode or modification of matter, respectively.
Matter is infinite in number from the point of view of dravya (substance).1 All material substances-sapradeśa and apradeśa (having parts and partless) are infinite with regard to dravya, kṣetra, kāla and bhāva. The classification of infinite forms of matter is also made from this substantial point of view.3 These infinite forms of matter are of infinite kinds with regard to jāti (category) and bhava (condition).5 Molecules and ultimate atoms are stated to be of infinite kinds from
1. Davvao nam poggalatthikae anamtaim davvaim., Bhs..
2. 10. 117.
2. Davva desenavi me ajjo savve poggalā sapaesā vi appaesā vi aṇaṁtā, khettādeseṇavi evam ceva, kālādeseņavi, bhāvādeseņavi evam ceva, Ibid., 5. 8. 220.
3. Ananta bhedāpi pudgalāḥ, RV., V. 25. 3.
4. Jatyadhārānantabhedasaṁsūcanarthaṁ bahuvacanaṁ, aṇavaḥ skandhāśca kriyate,, RV., V. 25.
5. Paramāṇapoggala ..no samṁkhejja no asamkhejja anamta, evam jāva anamtapaesiya khaṁdhā..jāva anamtagunalukkhatti, Bhs., 25. 4. 740.
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