The Positive Sciences of the Ancient Hindus c4.s3.11

c4.s3.11

The Súkshma Bhútas are forms of homogeneous and continuous matter, without any atomicity of structure; the Mahábhútas are composite; but even these are regarded as continuous, and without any atomic structure. The Vedánta speaks of *Anu* (Paramánu) not as an ultimate indivisible discrete constituent of matter, but as the smallest conceivable quantum or measure of matter. In the Sánkhya doctrine the atomic structure is ordinarily accepted. The *Gunas* are supposed to be परिच्छिन्न and अणु, bounded and indefinitely small in size (except the *Gunas* giving rise to Ákása and Manas, which are unlimited अपरिच्छिन्न); and hence the Tanmátras and Paramánus must be conceived to have a discrete structure.