Jain Journal 1989 01

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

Page 34

JANUARY, 1989
103
comprising nine different atoms.208 “The combined atoms (samghātaparamānu) alone appear in phenomenal reality, the simple ones or infraatomic elements presumably, were relegated to the transcendental reality, in accordance with the general character of a Buddhist element. This device made it an easy task for Buddhists to oppose indivisibility of atoms."209
According to the later Vaibhasikas, "air-atoms, form air by aggrega tion, fire-atoms consititute fire by aggregation, water-atoms form water by aggregation and earth-atoms form earth by aggregation. The elements combine to consitute inorganic substances, organism and organs.210
The combination of atoms is explained in Jaina philosophy in this way that some skandha (molecule) is formed by the process of combination of paramāņus (ultimate atoms), some by that of dissociation of skandhas and some by both the processes of combination and dissociation of paramānus or skandhas.211 When one dvipradeśika-skandha (binary molecule) is formed by the combination of two discrete paramāņus, then it is called a skandha produced by the integration of two paramānus. Similarly, tripradeśika skandha (triad) up to anantānantapradeśika skandha (molecule having infinitefold infinite units of matter) are formed by the combination of three up to infinitefold infinite paramārus212 respectively.
The combination of paramānus 213 takes place as a result of the chemical behaviour of the properties of matter of unequal degree viz. (1) snigdhatva (cohesiveness or attractive force), (2) rükşatva (dryness or repulsive force) and (3) snigdhatva-rūkşatva (cohesiveness cum dryness or attractive cum repulsive forces), which are inherent in both paramānus and skandhas having two up to infinitefold infinite units.
208 The actual number of atoms in a sanghata-paramanu will be much greater, since
each atom of secondary (bhautika) matter needs a set of four primary atoms of its own, but if dhatus alone are reckoned, the number will express the classes (dhatus)
of elements (dharmas) represented, Ibid. (cf. Abh. p. 22). 209 Ibid. 210 Vide The Positive Sciences of the Ancient Hindus, pp. 92-3. 211 Tattvarthadhigamasutra by Umasvati, prathama vibhaga, ch. v. sutra 26, p. 366. 212 Ibid., p. 367 (See Bhasya). 213 Bhagavati Vyakhyaprajnapti, sataka 8, uddesaka 9, sutra 4, and Prajnapana, purvar
dha, pada 13, sutra 185, bandhasattrimisika by Banarasigani, Sri Atmananda Granthamala, dvadasaratna.