Jain Studies and Science

Author(s): Mahaveer Raj Gelada
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

Page 97

THEORY OF MATTEREALS AND JAIN PHILOSOPHY / 91
2. Atomic Theory
Mahapragya has put the atomic theory in historical perspective. Indian Philosopher Kannad and Western Philosopher Democritus have been widely considered as the pioneers of particle theory. Democritus represented the era of 460-374BC. The evolution of Kannad's 'Vaishashik Sutra' is considered to be around 1st century AD. Whereas, the period of Lord Mahavira is 599-527BC. Mahavira's Atomic theory precedes those of Kannad's and Democritus', but the historians of the philosophy have ignored this fact. The reason is neither the bias nor the discrimination; it is perhaps the unavailability of Jain literature and lack of its serious study. Both Jain philosophy and Vaishashik philosophy agree to the fact that the param-anu is indivisible. But they disagree about the adjectival attributes of the param-anu. In Jain philosophy, all param-anu are identical as far as their physical form is concerned. But their classification is possible on the basis of various attributes (touch, taste, hue and odour) they possess. Since the extent of these attributes may vary from one unit to infinite units, Jains believe that there are infinite such permutations and combinations possible. It must be observed that the Atomic theory is just a part of whole theory of pudgals.
2.1. Sparsh (Touches) of Pudgal
Classification of Pudgals, as available in Jain scriptures, is very intricate. The first and foremost classification is in terms of the complexity of the composition. Accordinglý, the available classification is - . i. Param-aniu or Dion - As stated earlier, it is the smallest part of a
pudgal which is further indivisible. These dions can possess two touches (sparsh) out of the basic four; positive-negative (SnigdhRuksha) and hot-cold (Ushna-Sheit). Author has carefully christened them as 'dion' by their virtue of having two touches. Though these dions could be of infinite varieties depending upon the qualities they possess, however, they can be sub-categorised in four broad types depending on which two touches they inherit out of the four available -
Typel - combination of positive & hot Type2 - combination of positive & cold
Type3-combination of negative & hot
Type4 - combination of negative & cold