Microcosmology Atom in Jain Philosophy and Modern Science

Author(s): Jethalal S Zaveri, Mahendramuni
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

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Microcosmology: Atom
One of them is its capability of being perceived by senseorgans, which gives two types: (1) sūkṣma and (2) bādara. The type which cannot be an object of sensory perception is sūkṣma or subtle. While those aggregates which are perceivable by the sense-organs are called bādara or gross. It should be noted that sūkṣma type is not devoid of sense-data, but it is so miniscule that normal sense-organs are incapable of being stimulated by them. Since sense-organs are incapable of perceiving paramāņus, all paramāņus fall in this class, viz. sūkṣma. Again, all aggregates composed of two, five,... ten upto innumerable (asamṁkhya) paramāņus are also sūkṣma. i.e. catuḥsparsi bodies are also always sūkṣma. Aggregates composed of intinite particles and which are aṣṭasparsi are badara as well as sūksma. Only some aṣṭasparsi aggregates are perceivable and are therefore bādara.
Pudgala can also be classified from yet another aspect, viz., capability of being associated with jīva (i.e. conscious substance). We have stated before that some kinds of pudgala interact with jiva and become associated with it. Thus, we have two types of pudgala-(i) capable of interaction or associable and (ii) not capable of interaction or unassociable. All paramānus in their free state fall in the second category. Amongst the composite bodies, some can interact, while some cannot1.
(C) Three Types
The pudgala can be classified into three types in respect of the cause of transformation viz.,
(i) prayoga-pariṇata
(ii) miśra-parinata
(iii) visrasā parinata
(i) The pudgala which is taken in and transformed by jiva is pudgala-jiva-prayoga-parinata. Bodies of all categories of living beings and those which are being transformed by their vital processes are instances of this class.
(ii) The pudgala which was associated with jiva in the past, but is now abandoned by it, and therefore, is no longer being 1. See, "Twenty-three Types" of this section.