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Atomic Structure of Matter
261
is generated by the sound-potential with accretion of rudimentmatter (Bhūtādi), the vāyu-atom is generated by the touchpotentials by combining with the vibratory particles (soundpotential); the Teja-atom is produced by the light and heat potentials by combining with touch-potential and soundpotentials; the Ap-atom is generated by the taste-potentials by combining with light and heat-potentials, touch-potentials and sound-potentials; and the Pșthivi-atom is produeed by the smell-potentials by combining with the preceding potentials. The Ākāśa-atom is endowed with the attribute of penetrability, the Vāyu-atom with impact of mechanical pressure, the Teja-atom with radiant heat-and-light, the Apatom with viscous attraction, and the Earth-atom with cohesive attraction.''1
THE NYAYA-VAIŚESIKA VIEW ON NATURE
OF PARAMĀŅU (ATOM) As already discussed in brief outlines in the fourth chapter, paramānu (ultimate atom) is conceived by the Nyāya-Vaišeşika Philosophy as the ultimate particle of Matter; it is absolutely without any magnitude, its measure is anu (smallest);2 it is non-spatials and it has no inside or outside;4 it is intangible to the senses; its existence is inferable by the mind or intellect.6 No magnitude can be produced by the adding up of its measure,
1 P.S. A. H., pp. 38-39. 2. Mahato viparitas anu, VS., VII. 1. 10. 3. NV., IV, ii, 25, p. 522, line 3. 4. NS., IV. ii. 20. .5. NV., p. 233 and NYTT., p. 271, line 7 from bottom etc;
Param vā truteḥ, NV., IV. ii, 12; Truţistrasareņurityanarthāntaram jālaşūryamarscistham trasareņu rajaḥ smộtam, NV., p. 647; Tasya kāryaṁ lingam, vs., IV. 1. 2; VSU., VII, ii. 9.
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