History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray c40.s3.20

c40.s3.20

Of the nine categories of the Jainas, that of Ajīva (the not-Soul or non-Ego) consists of five entities, four of which are immaterial, viz., merit, demerit, space and time, and the fifth material. The last is called *pudgala* (matter), and this alone is the vehicle of Energy, which is essentially kinetic, i.e., of the nature of motion. Everything in the world of not-Soul (the non-Ego) is either an entity, or a change of state in an entity. *Pudgala* (matter) and its changes of state, whether of the nature of subtile motion or of Evolution, must furnish the *physical* as opposed to the *metaphysical* basis of all our explanations of Nature. *Pudgala* (matter) exists in two forms,—*aṇu* (atom) and *skandha* (aggregate). The Jainas begin with absolutely homogeneous mass of *pudgalas*, which, by differentiation, breaks up into several kinds of atoms qualitatively determined, and by differentiation, integration, and differentiation in the integrated, forms aggregates (*skandhas*). An *aṇu* has no parts, no beginning, middle or end. An *aṇu* is not only infinitesimal, but also eternal and ultimate. A *skandha* may vary from a binary aggregate to an infinitum. A binary *skandha* is an aggregate of two *aṇus* (atoms), a tertiary *skandha* is formed by the addition of an atom (*aṇu*) to the binary and so on *ad infinitum*. The ascending grades are (i) what can be numbered, (ii) indefinitely large, (iii) infinity of the first order, (iv) infinity of the second order, and so on.