Dr. Samani Mangal Pragya
As already mentioned earlier the indivisible unit of matter is paramāṇu. It cannot be pierced, cut, burnt or touched. This is not possible in the case of an atom and an aggregate with innumerable pradeśas with external means.[1] There is an option in the case of aggregate of infinite pradeśas, that it can and cannot be cut, burnt etc.[2]
According to the modern science, atoms can be divided. In this context, we would discuss the view point of Jain philosophy.
Paramāṇu (atom): Subtle and Empirical Form
There are two types of atoms postulated in Jain philosophy - subtle and empirical.[3] Subtle atom is indivisible. It cannot be divided. There are two nayas (view point) accepted in Jain philosophy- transcendental and empirical. Transcendental accepts the real nature of truth. For example, all gross aggregates are to be possessed of five colours. So a black bee is not only black, but it has all the five colours. Empirical view point receives popular truth and as in this case, it perceives a black bee as black. In the context of empirical atom also, this point of view is applied. Infinite subtle atoms together form one empirical atom.[4] From the transcendental view point, it is an aggregate of infinite pradeśas (units) but in the gross or empirical world we call it an atom.[5] In Anuyogadvāra, empirical atom is called as indivisible.[6]
In Bhagavatī, a thought has been given in the context of the division of atom and aggregate. Modern science holds atoms to be divisible. Acharya Mahapragya has given serious reflection on this subject. He opines that - 'According to Jain philosophy, the atom as accepted by modern science is an aggregate of infinite indivisible units of matter. Even an empirical atom is indivisible by weapons. Here, a considerable point is that āgamic literature states that an atom cannot be cut by the sharp edge of a sword. It is true because the sharpness of a sword is very gross, so it can not cut the atom. Modern science has developed very subtle technical machineries, which uphold the possibility of the division of an empirical atom.’[7]
