History and Doctrines of the Ajivikas: A Vanished Indian Religion c24.s1.11

c24.s1.11

The earliest of the three chief Tamil sources, *Maṇimēkalai*, states that the atoms are the chief subject of discussion in the Ājīvika scripture called “the Book of Maṛkali”.² They are described as “atoms of four types, together with life”.³ Thus it is evident that the atom of life is thought to be somewhat different from the four material elements. It is later stated that this element has the special characteristic of perceiving all the other four atoms in their combinations.⁴ The other two categories of Pakudha are included almost as an afterthought in the penultimate line of the Ājīvika elder’s sermon—“Joy and sorrow, even these are atoms”.⁵ The atoms are said to be neither destroyed nor created, and one atom cannot penetrate another. An atom will not split, nor multiply by fission, nor will it expand or grow.⁶