Studies in Jainism

Author(s): M P Marathe, Meena A Kelkar, P P Gokhle
Publisher: Indian Philosophical Quarterly Publication Puna

Page 30

CONCEPT OF MATTER IN JAINA PHILOSOPHY
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characteristics of tangibility or corporeality of matter besides varna (colour), rasa (taste), gandha (smell) and sparśa ( touch ). The meaning of samsthāna is akrti or ākāra (shape or figure), it can be the product or effect of the disintegrating and integrating nature of matter.85
Matter is active.86 In Jaina philosophy - Sat’ (Reality) is characterized by origination, decay and permanence87; it is the fundamental principle of the universe88. All substances are permanent by their respective inherent co-existing qualities, while they are origination-and-decay-like by their respective successive modes. The mode of a substance arising from internal and external causes, which is the cause of its motion, is called activity (Kriyā)89. All entities are inactive from the point of view of quality. An entity can be called inactive by the prominence of the substantial stand-point and the non-prominence of the modal stand-point.90 All entities are active from the aspect of origination and decay of their modes. They are active by the prominence of the modal point of view and the non-prominence of substantial point of view.91 All substances are endowed with qualities and modes; therefore, they are inactive and active respectively. The permanence of quality can be called inactivity, while the origination and decay of mode are to be called activity (kriyā).
Modes of substance are infinite, so there are stated to be infinite divisions or conditions of activity. Both artha paryāya and vyañjanaparyāya91x take place in soul and matter92. There are two kinds of bhāva (conditions), viz. parispandātmaka (vibrating) and aparispandātmaka (non-vibrating)93. It is explained that matter and soul are active " pudgalajivāstu kriyāvantah”94. Activity has been stated to be characterized by vibration or oscillation (parispandana). Vibration is the nature of matter; activity takes place in it due to this vibrating nature and it is capable of being active95 only by its capacity of vibration (parispandanaśaktiguņa). Therefore, it is active by its own capacity.
In regard to the integrating and disintegrating nature of matter it has been pointed out that the name 'pudgala' is attributed to matter because of its nature of integration and disintegration.97 A name is given to a thing according to its nature and activity.98 Matter integrates and disintegrates, the first cause of it is paramānu (ultimate atom)99, i.e. paramānu is the ultimate,