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The Concept of Matter in Jaina Philosophy
AJĪVAPARYAYA (MODIFICATION OF
NON-LIVING SUBSTANCE) As the topic is conceived here with the modification of Matter, the study of it will b; confined to an analysis of ajivaparyāya (modification of non-living substance) by leaving out the treatment of jivaparyāya (modfication of living substance). Ajfvaparyāya is of two kinds, viz. rūpi-ajiva-paryāya (modification of corporeal material non-living substance) and arūpiajiva-paryāyı (modification of non-corporeal non-living substance.)? Arūpi-ajíva-paryāya is stated to be of ten kinds2 viz. Dharmāstikāya (Principle of Motion), Dharmāstikāyadeśa, ( part of Dharmastikāya ), Dharmāstikāyapradeśa ( smallest unit of Dharmāstikāya), Adharmāstikāya, (Principle of Rest)Adharmāstikāyadeśa (part of Adharmāstikāya). Adharmāsti kāyapradeśa (smallest unit of Adharmāstikāya), Äkāśāstikāya (Space), Akāśāstikāyadeśa (part of Space) and Ākāśāstikāyapradeśa (point of space) and Addhāsamaya (Time).. There are stated to be four kinds of rūpf-ajiva-paryāya, viz. skandhas (molecules or aggregates), skandhadeśa (part of molecule or aggregate), skandhapradeśa (smallest unit of aggregate)4 and paramāņus (ultimate atoms).5
Ultimate atoms and their aggregates are infinite in number.6 There are infinite modifications of ultimate atoms, for one ultimate atom is equal to another one from the points of view 1. Duvihā ajivapajjavā, tamjabā-rūví ajsvapajjavā ya arūvi
ajīva-pajjavā ya-Pannavanā, 266. 2. Ibid. 267. 3. Pannavanā, 267 (Suttagama) -4. Skandha, skandhadeśa and skandhapradeśa form one joint
family in which ultimate atom also is united, though it is a unit (pradeśa), i. e. pradeśa is conceived by intellect, while paramanu (ultimate atom) is separate or discrete from that
family. 5. When an ultimate atom exists separately. 6. Pannavanā, 288.
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