Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s7.t12.26

v1.c7.s7.t12.26

**The Atomic Theory** - Atom (Anu) is the smallest unit of matter postulated by some philosophers in ancient India. This concept exists in the theories of many Indian schools of thought, with the atomic theory espoused by the Vaisheshika school being the most representative. The Vaiśeṣikas attached great importance to “fundamental cause” for the creation of objects, but instead of the prevalent theory of “single cause”, upheld a “multiple causes” theory, positing that all objects in the world (the effect) don’t stem from any single cause, but multiple ones. It claimed that objects are all composed of small indivisible “atoms”. In dravya, four bhūtas, ie pṛthvī (earth), ap (water), tejas (fire) and vāyu (air) are made of indivisible atoms. The four bhūtas further fall under two categories: atoms as the smallest unit; and combination of atoms. All objects in the world are made of the four bhūtas in infinite combinations.