Book Title: Jainism a Theistic Philosophy
Author(s): Krishna A Gosavi
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

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Page 164
________________ 148 JAINISM: A THEISTIC PHILOSOPHY "GOD IN JAINISM" to be the evolution of one ultimate existent substances seem substratum. (b)Views of Nyāya-Vaiseșikas Philosophy Regarding Evolution of the Idea of God and Creation of World: It is generally held that Indian philosophy is essentially spiritual, moving around the idea of God as the basic fact of life; however it is only in Yoga and Vedānta, besides the NyāyaVaiseșika darśana (schools) that God is formally acknowledged. All other orthodox systems of Indian philosophical schools quote, as atheist. Ancient philosophers of India were of the opinion that the world is spontaneous growth, promoted by the chance combination of material elements, and no intervention of God is needed for creation. God had originally no place in the Nyāya-sūtra of Gautama and in the Vaiseșika-sūtra of Kaņāda. The Nyāya and Vaiseșika were independent in their origins, but in the course of history, the two systems were amalgamated. Nyāya was the science of argumentation, predominantly intellectualistic and analytical. Special attention is paid in this system to the question of formal logic. The Vaiseșika is derived from word 'višeșa', which means difference, and the doctrine so designated because, according to it, diversity is at the root of the universe. The purpose of original Vaiseșika was purely scientific, and hence, materialistic, to find out the basis of substance which is substratum of qualities and actions, and the material cause of the basis of substance, the Vaišeșikas developed the atomic theory. The inference by which they sought to prove the existence of atoms is like this. Whatever produced must be made up of parts. Therefore if the parts of composite things be separated, we shall pass from larger to smaller, from smaller to still smaller, and from smaller to the smallest part which cannot be further divided in any Jain Education International For Personal & Private Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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