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Microcosmology : Atom The inter-changeability of matter and energy estabished by modern science is analogous with the Jain concepts of paryāya, parināma, kri yā etc., being inherent attributes of pudgalāstikā ya. The energy of electomagnetic radiations and the particles ejected from radioactive substances are but two different paryāyas of the same attribute viz, kri yāvatva. We shall have occasion to examine this point again while dealing with the nature of paramāņu a little later.
Finally, we come to the processes of Bandha (fusion) and Bheda (fission) which are the basis for the nomenclature of matter viz, pudgala These processes are, according to Jain views (as we have seen) inherent properties of the material universe. Paramānu, being indivisible, is, of course, not fissionable but all other categories of matter undergo both these processes.
Modern science, also, (as we have seen)2 accepts that fission and fusion are essential whenever energy is released, whether it is the chemical energy from coal or the atomic energy from nuclei of uranium or deuterium. Again, the process of spontaneous decay of the atoms, consisting of emission of alpha particles is not restricted to the so-called radio-active elements ; all elements heavier than silver (which, as we know, occupies the central position in the atomic table) are subject to the process of decay but the process is very very slow. Release of enormous atomic energy through the fission process of uranium nuclei and fusion process of the (heavy) hydrogen nuclei is already described in the previous chapter.
1. Chapter II, pp.. 2. Chaper I, pp.
