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The Jaina world of Non-living
in two forms - (i) apparent atom (real atom) and (ii) absolute atom (ideal atom). The ideal atom may have the property of absolute indivisibility as postulated in canons. However, it is the real atom which is of importance to common world. It is formed from infinite ideal atoms but still finer to be nakedly visible. The atom of the current scientists may be equated with this real atom. It is this atom which forms all the elements, compounds and aggregates of the world. The Jainian real atom may be divisible into what are now called sub-atomic particles. These may also not be the ideal Jainian atoms. Triloka-prajnapti has indicated that a real atom may have a size of 102 - 103 cm.
7. On this basis, the aphorism 5.11 will have a meaning with respect to ideal or absolute meaning only. The ideal atom does not have more than one spacepoint. It is dimensionless geometrical point. However, it is not an abstraction but an objective entity. It is senseimperceptible but it could be inferred by its visible effects or intuitional experience.
8. Niyamsara refers to one more classification of atoms. They are two-fold - (i) cause-atom and (ii) effect atom. The cause atom forms the physical aggregates like earth, water etc. The effect atom is the last indivisible unit caused by finest division of aggregates. The aphorism 5.11 will refer to per chance effect atom which could move upto the ideal atom of the Jainas. Kundakunda says that, in general, the word 'atom' should be taken as to mean ideal atom, while all other entities are designated as aggregates (Niyamsāra, verses 20-29).
9.
Vidyananda has said that the atom is not only uni-spacepointal but it is also the substratum of attributes of colour etc. Thus, the atom serves a dual character. It is substantively a reality and has a unit spacepoint. The uni-spacepointal character of atom is a non-separable differentia. It is also inferred from aggregates formed by atoms. In fact, spacepoint and spacepointousness are concomitant.
10. Vidyananda has refuted the concept of multi-spacepointal or eight-specepointal character of the atoms as accepted by some philosophical system. He has given inferences for support of his concept and for refuting it as below:
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