Paramanu is a Sanskrit word used in the Vaisheshika school of thought in the Indian Philosophy to denote that part of a bhuta, which is indivisible, indestructible and eternal. In another words, the nitya (eternal) form of the four dravyas prithvi, jal, tejas and vayu is called as Paramanu.[1]
| परमाणु | |
|---|---|
| Ultimate Atom | |
| Classification | |
| Indivisible, indestructible and eternal part of bhuta | |
| Existence | |
| Gunas | Eternal |
| Principle | Akāraṇavat |
| Concept | |
| Founder | Maharshi Kanada |
| Text | Vaisheshika |
Etymology
editParamanu is a Sanskrit compound word having two terms Parama and Anu.[2] The literal meaning of the Sanskrit term Parama is ultimate.[3] Similarly the literal meaning of the term Anu is smallest particle. Anu is the Sanskrit term used for denoting atom.[4] Thus the literal meaning of the compound Sanskrit word paramanu is ultimate atom.
Description
editIn the Vaisheshika school, all the substances of the universe are categorised into seven padarthas. They are dravya, guna, karma, samanya, vishesha, samvaaya and abhava.[1]
The synthesis of action is called dravya. There are nine dravyas. They are prithvi, jal, tejas, vayu, aakasha, kaal, dika, atman and manas. The gunas reside in dravya. The four dravyas prithvi, jal, tejas and vayu have two forms. These two forms are nitya (eternal) and anitya (non eternal). The nitya (eternal) form of these four dravyas is called as paramanu. The collective term used for these four dravyas along with aakasha is bhuta.[1] Paramanu is that smallest part of these bhutas which is indivisible, indestructible and whose existence is eternal. Their eternal existence is Akāraṇavat.[5]
The anitya (non eternal) form of these four bhutas is called as Karya.[1]
Jainism
editIn Jainism it is one of the two types of Pudgala (matter), the other being Skandha.[6][7] It also helps to define smallest measure of space. All the Parmanus occupy exactly same amount of space. The measure of the space occupied by one Parmanu is called Pradesha.[citation needed]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Dr. Umesh Mishra (2014). भारतीय दर्शन.
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (3 August 2014). "Paramanu, Paramāṇu, Parama-anu: 33 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (16 August 2009). "Parama, Paramā, Pāramā: 34 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (21 August 2011). "Anu, Aṇu, Aṅu, Aṉu, Āṇu, Āṉu: 40 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (19 November 2020). "Sūtra 4.1.1 (The eternal defined)". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ (WebMaster), Pandit Gopaldasji Baraiya, Rajesh Shah. "Principles of Jainism (Laghu Jain Siddhant Praveshika) in a concise form". www.atmadharma.com.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Glasenapp, Helmuth von (4 September 1999). Jainism: An Indian Religion of Salvation. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 9788120813762 – via Google Books.
 | This cosmology-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |