Philosophy In Jain Agams: Rule of Transformation of Matter

Matter has two forms - Skandha (aggregate of material atoms) and atom. There is an inter-transformation between these two forms, i.e. atom transforms into skandha and skandha gets transformed into atom. A question has been asked in Bhagavatī as to for how long can an atom remain as atom without undergoing any transformation? Addressing the curiosity, it has been answered that for a minimum of one samaya (indivisible unit of time) and maximum innumerable time periods, an atom can remain as an atom. Furthermore, additional information has been given for the time period of skandha, which is similar to that of an atom. Both can remain in their own state for minimum one samaya and for maximum-innumerable time units without transformation.^[1] However, after the limit of innumerable time units has lapsed, they must definitely get transformed into another form that is atom into skandha and skandha into atomic form, or any other form of skandha. Any matter cannot remain in the same form for infinite times. This is the natural law for the transformation of matter.

Rule of Transformation of Qualities and Attributes of Matter

Matter possesses colour, smell, taste and touch. These qualities exist in both atoms and aggregates (skandha). Sound, configuration etc. are also the states of matter but they exist in aggregate form only and such attributes are absent in atomic form. As atom and aggregate form ultimately gets transformed, even attributes of matter i.e. colour etc. definitely undergoes the change after as much as innumerable (asankhyeya) time periods. Colour etc. are the attributes of matter but there is the occurrence of transformation in these attributes. This means colour, taste etc. never remain similar in atoms and aggregates. They undergo variances. For eg. an atom can have intensity of one degrees of red in colour whereas some others can have two or more up to infinite degrees of intensity of red colour. Definitely their shades would vary after a minimum one instant of time and a maximum of innumerable time units.^[2] It means an atom with red colour with one degree of intensity, has to transform into red colour with two or more degree of intensity up to infinite degree of intensit2y of red in colour within a maximum of innumerable units of time.^[3] There are both guṇātmaka (changing of intensity in same colour, taste etc) and rūpātmaka (in different category of colour, taste etc.) kinds of change. When we say guṇātmaka change, it refers to the change of shade, like a very light shade of black colour may get transformed into a darker shade of black colour. Rūpātmaka change refers to the transforming of black colour of an atom completely into any other colour like yellow etc.