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A SOURCE-BOOK IN JAINA PHILOSOPHY
371 B. C.1 The Greek theory of atomism has certain similarities with the Jaina theory of atomism. But there are certain fundamental differences between the two. According to the Jainas, the nature of atom is unconscious. But Democrates and Cārvāka in Indian thought have mentioned that what we call atman or self is only the subtlest form of atom.
It has been mentioned by Śivadatta Jṇānī that atomism is the speciality of only the Vaiseşikas. The roots of atomic theory as propounded by Vaiseşika system can be traced to the Upanisads. Jainas and Ājīvakas have given references to the atomic theory, but it was Kanada who gave a systematic explanation of the doctrine of atomic theory. But considered from subjective point of view, it can be said that Vaiseșika atomic theory was not prior to the Jaina theory of atomism and unlike the Jaina theory, Vaiseṣikas have given specific details about the nature of the atomic theory. The term aņu was used in the Upanisads. It reads "Anoraṇīyān, mahato mahiyān", but there is no mention of paramāņu in the Upanisads, nor is there any discussion about the paramāņu theory.
Dr. Jacobi is of the opinion that the mention of the atomic theory in the Upanisads and also in the philosophical literature of the Upanisads is very little and therefore in the Vedantic literature, there is a refutation of the atomic theory as supposed to have been mentioned in the Upanisads. In the Samkhya-Yogadarsana, atomic theory has not been accepted. And Samkhya-Yogadarsanas claim to be as old as the Vedas. But the atomic theory is an integral part of the Vaiseşikas, and the Nyaya philosophers have accepted Vaiseşika theory of atomism. Both these schools of philosophy, the Vedantic and the Nyaya-Vaiseṣikas belong to the Vedic tradition. Jainas and Ajivakas are considered to be non-Vedic in tradition. Jacobi says that he considered that Jaina theory of atomism is very ancient because Jainism has its theory of atomism on the theory of matter. Modern philosophers have accepted the view that the atomic theory was first presented in a systematic form by the Jainas.1
1 Paschimi Darśana by Divānchand.
2 Bharatiya Samskṛti, p. 229.
3 Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics, Part II, p. 199-200. 4 Darśanaśāstra kā Itihāsa, (Hindi), p. 129.
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