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 90

Elements of Matter
55
rūpa), viz. cakkhu (eye), sota (ear), ghāņa (nose), jihvā (tongue), kāya (body), rūpa (colour and shape), sabda (sound), gaṁdha (smell), rasa (taste), itthindriya (material quality of female sex), purisindriya (material quality of male sex), jsvitendriya (life and matter), hadaya-vatthu (heart), kāyaviññatti (intimation by body), vacIviññatti (intimation by speech), ākāśadhātu (elements of space-vacuum), rūpassa lahutā (lightness of matter), rūpassa maduta (pliancy of matter), rūpassa kammaññatā (adaptability of matter), rūpassa upacaya (integration of matter), rūpassa santati (continuance of matter), rūpassa, jaratā (decay of matter), rūpassa aniccati (impermanence of matter) and kabilikāro āhāro (edible food ).
According to the Theravāda school, all these twenty four derived forms of Matter are dharmas (elements), therefore, they should be admitted as ultimate elements. But many of them can be considered "rather as aspects, modes or qualities than separate entities. This is borne out by the commentarial description of some of these dharmas and a distinction drawn between nipphana and anipphana rūpa”. As for example, ākāśa-dhātu (element of space-vacuum) is described as pariccheda-rūpa (material quality of relative limitation), kāyaviññati and vaciviññatti (intimation by body and speech), together with lahutā, madutā and kammaññatā (lightness, pliancy and adaptability of matter) are stated to be vikārarūpas (material qualities denoting special conditions). The upacaya, santati, jaratā and aniccatā (integration, continuance, decay and impermanence of matter) are known as laksaņarūpa (characteristics of matter). These ten kinds of rūpa are stated to be anipphanna-rūpa in order to point out their difference 1. Visuddhimagga, 14. 36, p. 309.
Of these only twenty three are mentioned in Dharmasangaví. The hadayavatthu has later been added by the com
mentators to the list. See Dhs., A. IV, 112. 2. Abhidharmadipa, Introduction, p. 91, They are termed also
as parinipphanna and aparinipphanna in Dhs., A. IV, 119.