Book Title: Facets of Jain Philosophy Religion and Culture
Author(s): Shreechand Rampuriya, Ashwini Kumar, T M Dak, Anil Dutt Mishra
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati
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Anekāntavāda, Nayavāda and Syädvāda 87
equally diversified''.!
The "diversification' or manifoldness--also described as indeterminateness' or 'indefiniteness'--may be illustrated by the two instances of matter and space in the physical universe. Dealing with the atomic theory of matter and space in Jainism Hiriyanna observes : “The atoms, according to it (Jainism) are all of the same kind, but they can yet give rise to the infinite variety of things so that matter as considered here is of quite an indefinite nature. Pudgala has, as we know, certain inalienable features, but within the limits imposed by them it can hecome anything through qualitative differentiations. The transmutation of elements is quite possible in this view and is not a mere dream of the alchemist.??2 The material world evolves from the diversification of these homogeneous atoms into aggregates of earth, water, fire and air. It is pointed out that “Jainism also, like Upanisads, does not stop in the analysis of the physical universe at the elements of prthvī, etc. It pushes it further back where qualitative differentiation has not yet taken place. But while in the latter the ultimate stage is represented by the monistic principle of Brahman, here it is taken by an infinity of atoms." ? Indicating that the character of indefiniteness or indeterminateness is extended to the sphere of quality also the same writer further observes : “It is not qualitatively only that matter is indefinite. Quantitatively also it is regarded as undetermined. It may increase or decrease in volume without addition or loss.''4 A further treatment of the notion of manifoldness of matter has been offered in the chapter on Relations, in connection with the problem whether an atom has, and if so in what sense it has, an infinite part (arśa), despite the fact it is impartite (niravayava) in its nature. In the course of the treatment of the problem we have met with an occasion to discuss the light which is shed on it by three thinkers, viz., Prabhācandra and McTaggart on the one hand and Abhayadeva on the other. Again, in the present instance of matter, the brief hints hitherto given of the Jaina atomic theory sufficiently indicate the nature of indeterminateness 1. JPNM, p. 70 2. OIP, p. 212 1. 3. Ibid, The phrase "an infinity of atoms' may be substituted, without being incorrect,
'an infinity of diversified atoms'. 4. Ibid. Cf. the following fragment of Empedocles in Greek philosophy : "Earth
increases its own mass and Air swells the bulk of Air." Burnet's Early Greek philosophy, the edn. Adam & Charles Black, London, 1952, p. 212. For a somewhat clearer view of the problem, this account of the indeterminateness of matter may be read in conjunction with the controversy regarding the savayavatva or otherwise of an atom in an earlier chapter (ch. VII).
