________________
The Concept of Matter in Jaina Philosophy
to be a "heterogenic" compound with the Earth-Bhuta as radicle or base. But according to the original Saṁ khya-Patañjala, the production of a new substance by the contact of dissimilar elements (vijātīyasamyoga) was admitted "as freely as in Vedanta, and was conceived as in nowise differing from the 'formation of a compound of atoms of the same Bhūta class".
332
The Samkhya view of chemico-physical action does not make any distinction between collocations of isomeric' and those of heterogeneous atoms", as basically they are all collo.cations of the Guņas; even it is urged by Vijñānabhikṣu that "the qualities of a compound substance are not necessarily the result of similar qualities in the compound elements."3
THE NYAYA-VAIŠEṢIKA VIEW ON THE COMBINATION OF MATTER
According to the Nyaya-Vaiseṣika Philosophy, the ultimate atoms cannot exist in discrete state in creation; nevertheless, the atmospheric air consists of the means of atoms in a loose uncombined state. 5 One earth-atoms combines with another
1. The Positive Sciences of the Ancient Hindus, p. 53;
Adhisthānaśarfram ca sukṣmam pañcabhūtātmakam vakṣyate, tanmatrakāryam yat bhūtapañcakam lingādhiṣṭhānam sarfram-Samkhya Pravacanabhāṣya, sutra 11 and 12, Chap. III. Sthūlaśarfraṁ pārthivameva anyāni ca bhūtäni upastambhakani, Ibid., 19, chap. III.
2. The Positive Sciences of the Ancient Hindus, p. 54.
3. Ibid.;
Sajatiyakaraṇaguṇasyaiva
kāryaguṇārambhakata
iti tu
tesam (tārkikānām) api na niyamaḥ, vide P.S. A. H., p. 54. 4. Śivaditya, Saptapadarthi, vide commentary.
5. Stimitavayustu paramāṇusamūha eva anārabdhadravyaḥ,
Saptapadarthi, p. 21.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org