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THE JAINA THEORY OF MATTER
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e.g., caused by the sun-rays while Brilliance or Udyota is light without heat as in the case of the moon-rays.
Tamas and Chhaya Darkness and Shade are forms of Matter i.e., material masses according to the Jainas. The doctrine is opposed to the theory of the Naiyayikas who contend that Darkness and Shadow are no positive substances but only negations of Light and Heat. In criticising the Nyaya position, Ratnoprabhacharyya argues in the following way.
"Darkness and Shadow are perceived with the eyes on the same way as Light, so that if the latter be held to be a substauce there seems to be no reason wby the former are to be but negations. Inference also does not support the negative view of Darkness and Shadow. For, what is the reason or mark (Hetu) for such a conclusion? Is it because these are perceived to be different from substances'? This is not the case, however. For, Darkness and Shadow are as much positive perceptions as a pitcher etc. Had they been but negaticns we could not have such positive perceptions with regard to them but have only negative apprehensions such as 'here there is a pitcher' etc. In the same way, the reason for the negative view of Darkness and Shadow cannot be put in this way,-'because these are due to causes which are different from those that produce a substance'. An effect, according to the Nyaya position is due to "intimate' (Samavayi), 'non-intimate' (asamavayi) and immediate' (nimilla) pre-conditions. The Jaina thinkers object to this view of causation. Even admitting the Nyaya theory of causation, the negative view of Darkness and Shadow is hardly justifiable. (If you ask) what is the cause of Darknoss?'-(we may similarly ask) what do you say about the cause of Light? If you say that the causes of Light are the atoms of Light we may say that the causes of Darkness are the atoms of Darkness.' Thirdly, the reason for the negative view of Darkness and Shade cannot be said to be, because
Darkness and Shadow bucome apparent when Light is nonShree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
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