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Chapter 7 Jaina Theory of Atoms
Constitution of Gross Matter
The question regarding basic nature and constitution of gross matter has been the subject of speculative study since the earliest times. It is only in recent centuries that a large amount of progress has been made in our understanding in this regard. Most philosophers postulating the material world as real propose that the gross matter is made up of smallest particles called atoms (anus or paramāņus ). The eastern philosophers generally have coined the word anu for the smallest constituents. However, Vātsyāyana' has differentiated them from paramānus which make up anus. The Jainas have the word anu for this smallest particle. It will be shown that the term used for basic particles could be taken as equivalent to the current term - atom for comparative elaboration and evaluation. Besides Jainas, Ajivikas, Cārvākas, Buddhas, Vaiseșikas and Greeks also have their atomistic theory for gross matter. This is being treated after the gross matter because of its fineness and intellectual conceptualism. Historical Perspective of Atomic Theory
Though Sarton” refers to some historically unverifiable record of Phoenician thoughts regarding earliest conception of atomic theory dating as early as 800 B. C., but Basham seems to be more realistic in pointing out the earliest authenticated instance to thoughts on atomic origin of mattergy to Prakrddha and Ajivikas dating 600-544 B. C. It is opined that the atomic theories of Jainas, Buddhas, Vaiśesikas, Cārvākas and others seem to have these earlier theories as their base and, therefore, have developed later.
It is very difficult to state the chronological order of
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