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The Concept of Matter in Jaina Philosophy
OTHER MANIFESTATIONS OF
MATERIAL SUBSTANCE
Saukṣmya (Fineness) : Sauksmya is the subtle manifestation of the material substances. It is of two kinds, viz. antya (absolute or extreme) and apeksika (relative). Antya (extreme fineness) is found in indivisible ultimate atoms. Instances of relative fineness are the wood apple, myrobalan, plum, etc. 1
Sthaulya (Grossness) : Sthaulya is the gross manifestation of the material substances. It is also of two kinds, viz. antya (absolute or extreme) and apeksika (relative). The example of extrema grossness is the biggest molecule of matters pervading the entire Universe, while the instances of relative grossness. are the plum, myrobalan, wood apple, palmyra fruit, etc. 2
Saṁsthāna (Shape): Samithāna is the shape of the material substance. It is of two kinds, viz. ittham (that which can be defined) and anittham (that which cannot be defined). The regular geometrical shapes or figures, such as, circle, triangle, rectangle, square, globe, etc., are the instances of the first variety. The clouds, etc., may be of various irregular shapes, which cannot be exactly described. They are the instances of the second variety. 3
Bheda (Division) : Bheda is the division of the material substances. It is of six kinds, viz. utkara (e. g. sawing a piece of wood), curņa (e. g. grinding barley and wheat into flour), khanda (e. g. breaking up of pitcher into different potsherds), curņika (c. g. separating the chaft from rice, pulses, etc.) pratara (e. g. dividing mica into many layers or slices) and 1. Tatrāntyaṁ paramāņūnām, āpeksikam bilvāmalakabadarā
dinām, ss., 5. 24 (Comm), See RV., 5.24; 10; p. 488. 2. Sthaulyamapi dividham antyamāpeksikam ceti taträntyam
jagadvyāpins mahāskandhe āpeksikam badarāmalakabilva
tālādisu, Ibid., See, RV., p. 488. 3. BhS., 25. 3. 723; SS., p. 296.
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