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Study of Jainism
paramanu consists of aggregate of endless sūkşma paramaņus.3% The Vyavahara paramaņu can be split and splitting of the atom can be understood in this sense.
Pudgala has four primary characteristics : 1. sparsa (touch 2. rasa (taste) 3. gandha (smell) and 4. varna (colour). In every puramaņu of the matter, these four characteristics are present expressing themselves into variations into different intensities. From the point of view of substance paramaņu is partless and indivisible, but from the point of view of the modes it is not so.33 Paramanu is accessible to sense experience. It is formless. It is so subtle that even when it has form the senses cannot grasp. The omniscient souls alone can see the paramaņu both in their formed and formless states. But one who has only sense experience cannot see the paramaņu.34
The paramaņus combine themselves into skandha (molecule). The process of combination is not to be traced to any outside force or agency. They are due to certain characteristics like viscosity and dryness. In this we find that the Digambara and the Svetambara traditions present slightly different versions of the process of combination of atoms They have given a detailed schemata of process of the combination on the basis of Sadšsa and Visadssa combinations. We need not go to the details of the apalysis.
Pudgala (matter) can be classified into atom (paramaņu) and the combination of atoms (molecules). Matter has also been classified on the nature and the intensity of the combination of molecules in various forms. There are six types of matter on the basis of such distinction.86 : 1. Sthūla-Sthūla (very gross) like objects – stone etc., 2. Sthūla (gross like liquids - milk, curds, water etc., 3. Sthūla-sūkşma (gross subtle) like - light, electricity, heat etc., 4) Sūkşma-sthūla (subtle gross) like-vapour, wind, etc., 5. Sūkşma (subtle) - Manõvarganas, 6. Sukṣma-sūksma (very subtle) - paramapu.
Combinations of paramanus have been considered on the basis of the degree of subtlity of combination. In this there are several combinations from the gross objects to the manövargapas.36 Eight
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