Jain Journal 1989 01

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

Page 24

JANUARY, 1989
Rajas (energy) works on the original infinitesimal units of mass (bhūtādi), "absolutely homogeneous and absolutely inert and ubiquitous, being devoid of all physical and chemical characters (rūpādibhirasam yutam) except quantum (paricchinnatva parināmas)."
93
The action of energy on the original units of mass produces the infra-atomic unit-potentials (tanmātrās) charged with different kinds of energy. It "represents the subtle matter, vibratory, impingent, radiant, etc. instinct with potential energy." These 'potentials' arise from the unequal aggregation of the original mass-units in different proportions and collocations with an unequal distribution of the original energy (rajas),172
"First the 'potential' of the sound-stimulus is lodged in one class of particles, tanmatras, which possess the physical energy of vibration (parispanda), and serve to form the radicle of the ether-atom (ākāsaparamāņu); then the potential of the tactile-stimulus is lodged in another class of tanmätras, particles which possess the physical energy of impact or mechanical pressure in addition to that of vibration, and serve to form the radicle of the air-atom (vāyu-paramāņu), next the potential of the colour-stimulus is lodged in a third class of tanmatras, particles which are charged with the energy and radiant heat and light in addition to these of impact and vibration, and serve to form the nucleus of the lightand-heat corpuscle, then the potential of the taste-stimulus is lodged in other tanmatras, particles which possess the energy of viscous attraction, in addition to those of heat, impact and vibration, and afterwards develop into the atom of water; and lastly, the potential of the smell-stimulus is lodged in a further class of tanmātras, particles which are charged with the energy of cohesive attraction in addition to those of viscous attraction
172 tanmatrarupadeh kim karanam iti cet svakarana-dravyanam nyunadhikabhavena anyo anyam prati samyogavisesa eva svajatiyopastambhadina vrddhihrsadikam ca yuktam; vide The Positive Sciences of the Ancient Hindus, p. 25.