Cosmology Old and New

Author(s): G R Jain
Publisher: Bharatiya Gyanpith

Page 39

SŪTRA 1 (Ajivakāya) Modern investigations have shown conclusively that all matter is composed of molecules which, in the case of gases, are travelling in all directions with high speed. Theoretically a piece of chalk may be broken into two pieces, those two into four, and so on to infinity. In reality, matter cannot be subdivided beyond a certain point without losing its identity. The smallest particle into which matter may be subdivided without destroying its characteristic properties is called a molecule (skandha).? The skandha is described as follows in Pañcāstikāya:
खंधा य खंधदेसा खंधपदेसा य होंति परमाण। इति ते चदुव्वियप्पा पुग्गलकाया मुणेयव्वा ।। खंधं सयलसमत्थं तस्स दु अद्धं भणंति देसोत्ति।
अद्धद्धं च पदेसो परमाणू चेव अविभागी॥26 (Matter exists in four main forms : skandha, skandhades skandha pradeśa and paramāņu.)
The complete molecule of matter is skandha; a half of it is skandhadeśa; a half of that half is skandhaparades a; and what connot be divided is the primary atom.)
e ever seen a molecule: these particles being so small that even the best microscope fails to reveal them. The diameter of a molecule has been measured to be one ten-millionth of an inch ( _ 1
in.). A drop of water is about one10,000,000 eighth of an inch (1/8 in.). If it is enlarged five crore times such that its diameter is nearly a hundred miles, the molecules of water within it would appear to have one inch diameter and if the drop were magnified to the size of the earth, the molecules in it would appear about the size of oranges.
The velocity of molecules in a gas varies from one to seven miles per second, while it should be remembered that the velocity of a rifle bullet seldom exceeds half a mile per second. Seven miles per second is such a high velocity that if a body be projected with this velocity from the surface of the earth, it would go beyond the earth's attraction and would never return.
25. In the Nyaya and Vais esika schools of Hindu philosophy also the theory of the atomic structure of matter is found well-developed.
26. Pari castikaya, 2.80-81.