[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Science, technology and education](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science) › [A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D.](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902) › v2.c34.185 # A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v2.c34.185 A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v2.c34.185 - **Language:** English ### [v2.c34.185](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c34.185) But in the original Sánkhya-Pátañjala it appears that the production of a new substance by mixture of unlike Bhútas ( विजातीयसंयोग ) was conceded as freely as in the Vedánta, and was conceived as nowise differing from the formation of a compound of atoms of the same Bhúta class. The Sánkhya analysis of all change into transformations of Energy due to collocations of unchanging Gunas, in other words the prevailing chemico-physical (or physical) point of view, naturally recognises no distinction between collocations of ‘isomeric’ and those of heterogeneous (or ‘polymeric’) atoms. At bottom they are all collocations of the Gunas. Even Víjñána-bhikshu who, as one of the latest expounders of the Sánkhya-Pátañjala, has been most affected by the Vaiseshika prejudice against ‘polymeric’ combination (विजातीयसंयोग) urges that the qualities of a compound substance are not necessarily the result of similar qualities in the component elements. (सजातीय-कारणगुणैरेव कार्यगुणआरम्भकता इति तेषां (तार्किकाणां) अपि न नियमः।) Elsewhere he explains that far from the vital activity being independent it is originated and maintained by the combined operation or fusion of the different sensory and motor reflexes of the living organism, and notes that the united operation of mixed (or miscellaneous) causes, where there is a fit collocation of matter, offers no difficulty to a follower of the Sánkhya-Pátañjala:—(जातिपाङ्ख्य य अस्माकमदोषत्वात्, सामग्रोममवधाने सति अनेकैरपि इन्द्रियैः एकदा एकवत्त्युत्पादने बाधकं नास्ति—प्रवचनभाष्य, Sútra 32, Chap. II.) In the middle of the ninth century, we find Váchaspati instancing some ‘heterogenic’ or ‘polymeric’ compositions as typical examples of evolutionary change (परिणाम) and unhesitatingly accepting the substantive character of the products. In the Kaumudi he describes the various acids and juices of fruits as modifications of the same original water in the presence of different kinds of earthy accretions. The process is peculiar. The water-particle(or atom) serves as a radicle or centre of a system, and the different kinds of the Earth-Bhúta centering round this as a nucleus become the seat of forces, which bring in the development of new energies (and new qualities, \*e.g.\* tastes) in the water. (यथा वारिद्विमुक्तं उदकं एक रसमपि तत्तद्-भूतविकारान् आसाद्य नारिकेल-तालो-विल्व-कपित्यादि-रसतया परिणामान् मधुर-लवण-तिक्त-कटुक-कषायतया विकल्पते । इति एकैकगुणसम्भवान् प्रधानगुणं आस्मित्य अप्रधानगुणाः परि-णामभेदान् प्रवर्तयन्ति । (कौमुदी on Káriká 16). Váchaspati also points out that different substances may be transformed into one and the same substance (\*e.g.\* - [Previous: v2.c34.184](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c34.184) - [Next: v2.c34.186](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c34.186) - [Up: v2.c34](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c34) ## Cites (1) - [Sāṃkhyakārikā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darsana.samkhya.samkhyakarika.16) — Īśvarakṛṣṇa, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c34.185](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.ray-1902.v2.c34.185) · Pramāṇa