A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v2.c34.329

v2.c34.329

(b) Mono-Bhautic compounds of higher orders :—Again, Mono-Bhautic compounds of the first order may chemically combine to form higher compounds, and as the ultimate Bhúta substratum is the same, the process of decomposition and recomposition will be essentially the same as before. The only doubtful point is whether in this case the component compound substances are broken up only into their constituent molecules, or into the original homogeneous Bhúta atoms. Some of the later Vaiseshika Scholiasts hold that the latter happens in every case of chemical composition, however complex, but the earlier Vaiseshika conceived that in the case of compounds of compounds, the decomposition does not proceed so far as the original Bhúta atoms ; but that it is the specifically determined atoms constituting the molecules of the component compounds that are transformed under the impact of the heat-corpuscles ; and then one such transformed atom (one or more according to another version) from the molecule of one component unites with one similarly transformed atom (one or more according to the other version) from the molecule of the other component. Prasastapáda, the great Vaiseshika Doctor, holds this view. When, for example, in the fertilised ovum, the germ and the sperm substances, which, in the Vaiseshika view, are both isomeric modes of Earth (with accompaniments of other Bhútas), unite, both are broken up into homogeneous Earth-atoms, and it is these that chemically combine under the animal heat (and bio-motor Energy, वायु) to form the germ-plasm (कलल). But, next, when the germ-plasm develops, deriving its nutrition from the chyle (blood) of the mother, the animal heat breaks up the molecules of the germ-plasm into its constituent atoms (कललारम्भकपरमाणवः), i.e., into atoms specifically determined, which by their grouping formed the germ-plasm, and then these germ-plasm atoms as radicals chemically combine with the atoms of the food constituents, and thus produce cells and tissues. (समुत्पन्नपाकजैः कललारम्भकपरमाणुभिः अदृष्टवशात् उपजातक्रियैः आहारपरमाणुभिः सह सम्भूय शरीरान्तरमारभ्यते इत्येषा कल्पना। पितुः शुक्रं मातुः शोणितं तयोः सन्निपातानन्तरं जठरानलसम्बन्वात् शुक्रशोणितारम्भकेषु परमाणुषु पूर्वरूपादिविनाशे सति समानगुणान्नोत्पत्तौ द्व्यणुकादि-प्रक्रमेण कललशरीरोत्पत्तिः। ...... ...तव मातृराहाररसः मावया संक्रामति अदृष्टवशात् तव पुनर्जठरानलसम्बन्वात् कललारम्भकपरमाणुषु क्रियाविभागादिन्यायेन कललशरीरे नष्टे समुत्पन्नपाकजैः कललारम्भक- परमाणुभिः अदृष्टवशात् उपजायक्रियः आहार-परमाणुभिः सह सम्भूय शरीरान्तरमारभ्यते इत्येषा कल्पना । S'rídhara, Kandalí, पृथिवोनिरूपणम् ।) In this hypothesis (कल्पना), it is assumed that the atoms are similarly transformed, *i.e.*, become endowed with the colour, taste, smell, *etc.* of the product (the cell or tissue), the moment before the chemical combination takes place. Similarly, when milk is transformed into curd, one view is that the transformation takes place (under internal heat) in the constituent atoms of the milk molecules, atoms specifically determined as milk, and not in the original atoms of the Bhúta (or Bhútas) entering into the composition of milk. (Cf. एवं महादुग्धारम्भः परमाणुभिरेव दृध्यारभ्यते । एकमहिम्नेव दृध्यारम्भकैरैव परमाणुभिर्नवनीतारम्भः इति दिक् । Nyáya-bodhiní, on Annam Bhatta's Tarka-sangraha.) Cf. Dinakarí, on the other hand—द्वयणुकरूपदुग्धध्वंसजन्यत्वेऽपि तत्र (दग्धः) ।) In these cases, the atomic contact is called constituent contact ( आरम्भकसंयोग ), and all the atoms are equally regarded as material causes ( उपादानकारण or समवायकारण ) of the compound.