Dr. N.L. Kachhara
The varganas fall into two broad categories, one has four- touch and the other having eight-touch. The 2nd to 14th order varganas are four-touch type and mass less. The 16th to 23rd order varganas are eight- touch type and are supposed to have weight. The first anu vargana consisting of a single paramanu has two-touch. The 15th intermittent regular vargana is perhaps a mixed type. The four-touch and the eight- touch varganas have separate existence and inter conversion among them are limited.
The smallest anu vargana consisting of one paramanu is produced by disintegration of higher varganas. That is, a paramanu separated from any vargana forms an anu vargana. All varganas in the four-touch category, from the 2nd to 14th kind, are produced by disintegration of higher order varganas, integration of lower order varganas and by integration and disintegration of varganas of the same order. For example, disintegration of 10th order non-associable vargana can produce two or more kinds of lower order varganas say 4th and 9th order or 4th, 6th and 8th order, etc. Conversely, integration of 4th and 9th order or integration of 4th, 6th and 8th order varganas can produce one 10th order vargana. It is also possible that a 10th order vargana of higher range disintegrates into two or more varganas of lower range of the same order. Thus the 2nd to 14th order varganas belonging to four- touch category are freely formed and deformed by union and separation of paramanus of group or paramanus. Inter and intra conversion between them is common.
Division and union of the same order vargana produce the 15th intermittent regular varganas. Similarly, the varganas of 17th, 19th, 21st and 23rd order are also exclusive (when part of body of organisms) and not produced by other order varganas. In these five types, varganas of the same order can inter convert among themselves but conversion into another order does not take place (when these varganas are part of a body). For example a higher range vargana of 21st order can break up into two or more varganas of lower range in the same order. However, in all above cases a single paramanu separated from any order vargana can unite with any other vargana irrespective of category. In this sense, all kinds of varganas have a limited inter convertibility.
Any one kind of vargana of a particular order is innumerable fraction of total varganas present in the loka at anytime. This means that vargana of no order becomes excessive and there is a fair distribution of paramanus in different kinds and order of varganas. The IBV, LMV and SMV order of varganas are supposed to be live (when part of a body) and this is another reason for their non-convertibility into another order vargana.
