Jain Journal 1999 10

SR No.: 520136
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 1999
Total Pages: 66
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 4 MB

Page 41

108
JAIN JOURNAL : Vol-XXXIV, No. 2 October 1999
(space), pudgala (matter) and kāla (time). The first four ajīvas are called astikāya. The fourth astikāya, the pudgala implies the concept of matter in Jaina philosophy. 'Pud' means 'to combine' and 'gala' means 'to dissociate'. Hence 'pudgala' means something which transforms by combination or dissociation. Pudgala is said to be identified by five kinds of colours (black, red, blue, yellow and white). eight types of touches (soft, hard, heavy, light, cold, hot, smooth and rough) and five tastes (bitter, pungent, acidic, sweet and astringent) and two different odours (fragrance and its opposite, i.e. malodour). It is worth mentioning that we now know that smell is due to molecules of odorous substances which are volatile, i.e. fly through the air and bind to the nasal (olfactory) system and generate the sense of smell. That smell has a physical basis, namely that it is based on tangible but minute particles of matter, is evident in the Jaina school of thought.
Pudgala can be seen in two forms: atoms (anuand paramānu) and aggregate (skandha). The anuis eternal and ultimate particle of matter. However no clear distinction has been made between anu and paramāņu. The other form of pudgala is skandha which is an aggregate of two or more atoms and the physical world is mahāskandha Skandha is not absolute and beginningless like the atom. Moreover, in addition to taste, colour, odour and touch, skandha possesses the following physical characteristics : dimension, sound, atomic linking, shape and configuration, divisibility, opacity, radiant heat and light. Skandhas may be made up of a countable number of atoms (Samhata-pradesika), of uncountable number of atoms (asamkhyāta-pradeśika) of anus of an infinitely large number of the first order (ananta), of anus of an infinitely large number of the second order (anantānu) and so on. The theory of chemical combination and atomic linking is the most significant feature of the Jaina atomism. According to the Jaina atomism, chemical combination of two atoms can only occur when their qualities are opposite (for example, dryness and moistness, roughness and smoothness). Atomic linking will be strong or weak depending on the strength of those quantities. Atoms with similar qualities combine only when the strength of those qualities varies widely. It is due to chemical combination and atomic linking, changes in the properties of atoms take place. It is noteworthy that the theory of chemical combination of the Jainas resembles the dualistic hypothesis of Berzelius in the early nineteenth century, in which two electrically unlike atoms (one +ve and one-ve i.e. opposite qualities) were said to attract each other and finally combine with neutralization of their charges. Such speculation of the Jainas (without going through any experiment) is really surprising.