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Atom in Jain Philosophy
(a)
tata-sound produced by percussion instruments like drum.
(b) vitata-sound produced by stringed instruments like violin1.
(c) ghana-sound produced by bells, etc.
(d) sușira-sound produced by flute, and such other windinstruments2.
Classification of sound can be tabulated as under:
Sound
Natural (vaisrasika)
Lingual (bhāṣātmaka)
inarticulate
articulate (akṣaratmaka) (anakṣarātmaka)
Percussion-instrument
(tata)
Stringed-instrument (vitata)
89
Produced by living beings (prayogika)
non-lingual (abhāṣātmaka)
Bells etc. (ghana)
Wind
instrument (suşira)
1. There is slight difference between the Jain and lexicographer's terminology for sound of musical instruments. According to the latter, tata stands for the sound produced by stringed instruments, while anaddha stands for that by percussion instruments.
2. Sarvarthasiddhi, 5/24.
