Studies in Jainism

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

Page 56

JAINA CONCEPT OF ATOMIC COMBINATION
In the canonical corpus, the Bhagavati provides us enough materials about the Jaina concept of atomic combinaton. In the Bhagavati 8.9, bandha is distinguished by visrasa and prayoga. Visrasa bandha is of two kinds, namely anādi bandha as represented by the pradeśa bandha of dharma, adharma and akaśa which is either sarva or deśa bandha, and sādi bandha as represented by bandhana of anu-skandha, Prayoga bandha is likewise considered from the viewpoints of anādi-ananta, sãdi-ananta, and sādi-santa bandhas. Bhagavati 18.3.619 classifies bandha into dravya type and bhāva type, in the former of which visrasa and prayoga bandha are categorized. Bhāva bandha is explained as karmic bondage, which is divided into mūla and uttara prakstis.
Bhagavati says that combination does not take place between two atoms due to the lack of snigdha, which however occurs among three atoms due to the rise of snigdha. The composite of these hree atoms is then disintegrated by two ways, either by splitting into two (i. e., 11/2 each) or into three (i. e., three atoms). Discussion is further followed by a confusing statement that snigdha arises between two atoms which then come into combination. The description obviously evinces that the atomic combination is speculated in terms, of interlinking as so assumed by the atomists. of the other schools. Dimension is produced to the aggregate by the linking of atoms, which is expressed by the number of pradeśas in the composite. Bhagavati 12.4 deals with the computation of the method of atomic linking and split, which takes place in the following manner : Combination
Division number of number of number of mode of reduction paramānus pradeśas in divisions
one skandha
1
+
1
1+2 1+ 1+ 1
+3; 2 +2 1 +1 +2 1+1+1+1 1 + 4; 2 + 3 1+ 1+ 3; 1 + 2
+1 +1 +2 1+ 1+ 1+ 1+
+++
+++
+
2
1