Studies in Jainism

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

Page 38

CONCEPT OF MATTER IN JAINA PHILOSOPHY
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taking place in all substances, i. e. there occur the decrease and increase of this quality in them. Pudgala becomes of one form (egarūva)176 by the process of transformation like the energy of matter of the physical sciences. Besides, the Jaina theory of tranformation of matter brought about by the process of integration, disintegration and integration-cum-disintegration compares well with the principle of chemical behaviour of atoms and molecules as laid down in the physical sciences. “Molecules can sometimes interchange atoms and form new substances and molecules already formed can sometimes dissociate again into separate atoms":178 Combination of Particles of Matter :
The combination of particles of matter takes place as a result of the chemical behaviour of the properties of matter of unequal degree, viz. (1) Snigdhatva (cohesiveness or attractive force), (2) rūkşatva (dryness or repulsive force) and (3) Snigdhatvarūkşatva179 (i. e. attractive-cum-repulsive force), which are inherent in both paramāņus and skandhas having two up to infinitefold infinite pradeśas. Two paramāņus combine together into a skandha because of their possession of the property of snehakāyatva (cohesiveness)180. Skandhas also integrate, and disintegrate also into two, three units181, etc. Actually this
rocess of their combination and dissociation takes place by virtue of the properties of cohesiveness and dryness- attractive and repulsive forces which are associated with them.181x The Jaina view of the interactions between paramānus which give rise to the existence and behaviour of matter in bulk bears some points of similarity with that of the physical sciences, regarding interatomic forces and the combination of atoms. “Every atom exerts a force upon every other atom. Thus there will be a tendency for atoms because of their force of attraction (i. e. snehakāyatva of the Jainas) to draw together and stick”182.
CONCLUSION A comparative study of the Jaina concept of matter with those of the Sāmkhya, Bauddha and Nyāya-Vaiseșika Schools of thought reveals that according to the Sāṁkhya there is Prakstitatva among many successive changes ever existing and all-pervading; again, however, it is itself attaining also other states in accor