The Positive Sciences of the Ancient Hindus c4.s2.60

c4.s2.60

The magnitude of a Paramánu is called Párimándalya (पारिमाण्डल्य) in the Nyáya-Vaiseshika, the name suggesting that the Paramánus were conceived to be spherical in shape. The Nyáya-Vaisesnika calls a Paramánu a mere point with infinitesimal dimensions, *i.e.* less than any assignable fraction of any finite quantum; but in the Sánkhya-Pátañjala, a Paramánu, though indefinitely small, had still assignable dimensions, being divisible into Tanmátras, which were themselves integrations of Bhútádi. The diameter of a spherical Paramánu must have been conceived to be less than 3.2⁻²⁰ of an inch (*i.e.* less than the conventional Paramánu with which linear measures begin), and the volume of a Paramánu would, therefore, in accordance with Bháskara's formula, be smaller than 4/6.π.3³.2⁻⁶³ or π.3².~2⁻⁶¹ of a cubic inch, where π = 3927/1250. The Tanmátras were conceived as smaller still.