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 Conception of Matter in Jaina Philosophy
of colour, taste, smell, touch and shape is rūpa.1 The things which have corporeality are the material objects.2 Matter is called rūpin, i. e. mūrta (concrete) because of pariņāma (transformation) produced by the aggregation of colour, taste, smell, touch and shapes like triangular, rectangular, etc.3 It is defined that rūpapariņāmi gunas (corporeality--producing qualities), viz. touch, taste, smell and colour become forms of matter, 4 i. e. forms of matter are characterized by touch, taste, smell and colour. According to Siddhasena Ganin, guna (quality), which is inherent in a Dravya (substance) but nonexistent in other Dravyas (substances), is called laksanaguna (distinctive quality) and that by which an object can be determined is the characteristic of it. 5 One object can be distinguished from another by its laksanaguna. Matter only is rūpin (corporeal), while other fundamental substances are arūpin (non-corporeal). That which is rūpin is mūrta. Mūrtatva (concreteness or tangibility) of Matter is brought about by particular parināma (višista pariņāma) of colour, taste, smell and touch.6 Therefore, a thing which is rūpin is Pudgaladravya (material substance), no form of Matter can be arūpin, i. e. devoid of colour, taste, smell, and touch.3 Rūpitva (corpo1. Mūrtirhi rūpādiśabdābhidheyā, sāca rūpādi
saṁsthānapariņāmaḥ, TS. Bhā. Țikā, p. 323. 2. RūpamesāmastIti rūpinaḥ, Ibid., p. 322. 3. Tattvārtha Rājavārtika, p. 444. 4. Sparśarasagandhavarşavantaḥ pudgalāḥ - TS., V. 23,
p. 355; Sparśaḥ rasaḥ gandhaḥ varņa ityevam laksaņāḥ
pudgalā bhavanti --- TS. Bhā., p. 355. 5. Laksyate aneneti laksanam, Ibid., II. 8, p. 149 6. Rūparasagandhasparsā eva viśistapariņāmānugļhstāḥ
santi mūrtivyapadeśabhājo bhavanti --- TS. Bhā. Țikā,
V. 3, p. 324. 7. Pudgalā eva rūpiņo bhavanti, rūpameşāmastyesu vā astīti
rūpiņaḥ-TS. Bhā., p. 325. 8. Na mūrtivyatitekeņa pudgalāḥ santi — TS. Bhā. Țikā,
V. 4, p. 325.