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Scientific Contents in Prakṛta Canons
forms and manifestations like sound, bonding, division, grossness, fineness, shape, darkness, shadow, sunshine, moonlight, motion and touch, taste, smell and colour etc. They have varied qualities.
(vii) These aggregates are produced by association, dissociation and a mixed process. The sense perceptible ones are produced by the mixed process.'
(viii) The aggregates are supposed to be embodying all characteristics of the piece of matter to which they belong. (ix) They are active and may be transformed or modified in various ways.
(x) The aggregation may be caused and effected due to atoms. They may also become cause for higher aggregational effects.8
The Buddhists have one word for matter - rupa consisting of two varieties primary elements or mahābhūtas and secondary elements or utpādarūpa. Both of them are called rūpa-skandhas consisting of atoms or aggregates. However, the Buddhist atoms, combined atoms or primary elements are all equivalent to skandhas of the Jainas as they are made up of 7-10 small constituents. Thus, for them, matter is nearly aggregational or molecular. The utpādarūpas have been descri-bed to be 15, 16 or 24 in number all aggregational species.9 The Vaiseṣikas postulate atomic theory but they do not have a separate or common term for atomic aggregations. They are called effects by them, their nomenclature is depending on the number of atoms participating in aggregation like dyads, triads etc. These may be called large or composite mattergy forms10. The composite-constituent concept of inferential nature in this connection has been discussed by Prabhacandra.11
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Current scientists have the term-mixtures, molecules and compounds for various atomic aggregations. However, the molecules and compounds are chemically bonded in contrast
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