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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Classification of Matter
intangible to the senses are called fine pieces of Matter. All ultimate atoms are fine and intangible to the senses. Among molecules also, the constitution (or a structure) of many of them are such that they cannot be apprehended by the senses, e. g dyad (dvyaṇuka), triad (tryaṇuka), karmic matter; they are also called fine.1 Skandhas (molecules) which are tangible to the senses are called gross matter,2 e. g. clarified butter, water, oil, etc. That is to say, fine matter is that which is an object for thought-activities and is beyond the sense-perception and gross matter is that which is within the range of senseperception. As to the second point of view-the tactic quality, it is explained that dvisparsin pudgala (matter having two touches, trispargin (matter having three touches), catursparsin (matter having four touches) and finely transformed matter having eight touches are fine. The remaining molecules having eight touches are gross. In regard to the third point that Matter is fine and gross from the point of view of pradeśatmakatā (unitariness or discreteness ), it is explained that apradeśin pudgala (partless matter) or ekapradeśin-pudgala (Matter having one unit), dvipradeśin pudgala (molecule having two units), daśapradeśika (molecule having ten units), samkhyāta pradeśika (molecules having countable units), asamkhyātapradeśika (molecules having countless units), and sūkṣma pariņata-anantapradeśika skandha (fine-transformed molecule having infinite units) are called fine.4 Gross transformed mole cules having infinite units (badarapariṇata-anantapradeśika skandha) are called gross.5 The classification of Matter into 1. Sūkṣmā bhavanti skandha-prayogyaḥ karmavargaṇāsya punaḥ, Niyamasāra, 24 (Skt. Chaya)
2. Sthula iti vijñeya sarpir jalatailadyaḥ. Ibid., 22 (Skt. Chāyā).
3. Ye punaratīndriyadvyaṇukādavo anantaṇukaparyavasānāḥ skandhaḥ sūkṣmaste, TS., TI, p. 373;
Ta eva badarasta eva ca punaḥ sūkṣma iti, Ibid.
4. TS. TI., p. 373. 5. Ibid.
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