Microcosmology Atom in Jain Philosophy and Modern Science

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

Page 180

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Microcosmology: Atom
holes. In the Jain canon, Bhagavatī Sūtra, two types of black holes are described in some detail. They are (i) tamaskāya, (ii) kṛṣṇarāyi, (kṛṣṇarājī, kṛṣṇarāti).2
Tamaskā ya literally means a body composed of darkness. its shape is described as conical with the base having the shape of a cowrie (i.e. elliptical ?) and the surface parabolic. It has neither planets nor satellites. It is a huge area of space, but contains nothing except swirling gaseous matter, which is infinitely destroyed, created and destroyed again. Brightest sunlight would be transformed into utter darkness, if it nears tamaskāya. It is totally black and is described "terror-producing." Even a deva (celestial being) will be horrified if he happens to remotely experience the force of one of these black bodies, and would instantly fly away to escape from its clutches.
as
There are two sizes of tamaskāya
(a) with base diameter of numerable yojanas and a volume of innumerable yojanas.
(b) with base diameter as well as a volume of innumerable yojanas.
Kṛṣṇarayi literally means black mustard or mass of darkness. Two of them exist in each of the four directions making a total of eight Kṛṣṇarāyīs. All the four internal ones are rectangular in shape while the two external ones in north and south are triangular and east and west are hexagonal. Like tamaskaya, a Kṛṣṇarāyī contains nothing but swirling gaseous matter, which is infinitely destroyed, created and destroyed again. It is totally dark and black in colour. The rest of the description is similar to that of tamaskaya.
(iv) Measure of Hardness (Hard, Soft)
Hardness (kathoratva) and softness (mṛdutva) or roughness and smoothness indicate the condition of the surface of the object to the sense-organ of touch.
1. Bhag. Sut. 6/5/70-106.
2. Kṛṣṇarayi could also be kṛṣṇarāśi which means mass of blackness.