Jain Journal 1988 10

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 42

OCTOBER, 1988
Sprstagati of Paramānu (Motion of Atom) by touching Other Pieces of Matter
When a paramāņu makes movement by touching skandhas (molecules) having from two up to infinite units of matter, this motion is called sprsta or sprstagati.154 A paramāņu dissociates from a skandha by a terrible motion. Activity and motion of a paramānu are regular from some point of view and also irregular from other points of view. But they are mainly irregular, for this reason its motion is called aniyamitā (irregular) : paramāmurgati aniyamitā. 155
Paramāņus are vibrating (or moving) and non-vibrating (or nonmoving) from the point of view of time. 156 The duration of vibration of a paramānu is one samaya in the minimum and innumerableth part of an ävalikā in the maximum and the duration of its non-vibration (or nonmoving) is one samaya in the minimum and innumerable samayas in the maximum.157 A paramānu is sarvaija and nireja (wholly moving and nonmoving), while skandhas (molecules) having from two up to infinite units of matter may be desaija (partly moving), sarvaija (wholly moving) and nireja (non-moving).158 in regard to the intermediate time (antarakāla) of vibration of paramānu and skandha it is stated that they, being immersed in one space-point or innumerable points of space, exist vibrating for one samaya in the minumum and innumerableth part of an avalikā in the maximum in the case of vibration and innumerable samayas in that of non-vibration from the points of view of time, etc.159 In regard to the motion of paramāņu the basic difference between the Nyaya-Vaisesika and Jaina concepts lies in the fact that in the former's view motion is caused by adrsta (unseen force) in the case of creative motion and it is produced by the effect of violent shaking of a body or impact in the case of non-creative motion,160 while according to the latter, motion in paramānu is an intrinsic capacity.
(To be continued]
154 Prajnapanasutra, purvarddha, pada 16, sutra 205 and see its Tika also. 156 Tattvartha Rajavartika by Akalankadeva, bhaga I, ch. II, sutra 26 ; vide Jaina
Padarthavijnana men Pudgala by Sri Mohanlal Banthia, p. 72, published by Jaina
Svetambara Terapanthi Mahasabha, Calcutta, 1960. 156 Bhagavati Vyakhyaprajnapti, sataka 25, uddesaka 4, sutra 744. 157 Ibid., sataka 5, uddesaka 6, sutra 217. 158 Ibid., sataka 25, uddesaka 4, sutra 744. 158 Ibid., sataka 5, uddesaka 6, sutra 217. 160 Studies in Nyaya-Vaisesika Metaphysics by Dr. Sadananda Bhaduri, published
by Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Poona, 1947, pp. 146-147.