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Microcosmology: Atom
division is merely conceptual. When, on the other hand, a skandha breaks up physically or chemically into fragments, each fragment becomes a whole aggregate i.e. skandha and not skandha-desa.
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(iii) Skandha-pradeśa Pradeśa means an indivisible undetached part of a skandha.
The smallest deśa which is further indivisible is thus a pradeśa. Like desa, pradeśa is also merely conceptual. In other words, a pradeśa is an undetached part of a thing whose dimension is equal to that of a paramāņu.
Another term used for pradeśa is avibhāgi pariccheda (i.e. indivisible fragment). A paramānu, however, being a separate entity is different from a pradeśa. The former is an objective entity, whereas the latter is only an ideal construct.
(iv) Paramāņu: The word is derived from 'parama' and 'anu'. Parama means the 'ultimate' and anu means 'atom'. According to Jain Microcosmology, paramāņu is the eternal and indestructible ultimate atom and also the primary constitutive cause of the entire physical universe. Thus, the infinitesimally small, indivisible and free i.e. unattached to another particle of matter is paramāņu. Paramāņus are the ultimate building blocks which by mutual combination produce the whole of physical universe. So long as it is considered to be a portion of an aggregate, it is pradeśa, while in its free i.e. unattached state, it is paramāņu.
(E) Six Types
Generally, largeness is equated with grossness (sthaulya) and smallness is equated with subtlety (saukṣm ya). However, size is not the criterion in this classification. Gross is that which prevents other subtances to pass and which can be stopped by others; or which cannot occupy space which is already occupied by others or which cannot pass through others and which does not allow others to occupy the space occupied by it.
Conversely, subtle is that which does not hinder others and cannot be hindered by others (or which can occupy the space
