Physical substance, matter, energy
'Pud' means to combine/integrate and 'gala' means to separate/disintegrate.
Hence, the basic meaning of the word pudgala is:"That which undergoes modifications by integration and disintegration."
In the words of the modern science, we can say that "what is fissionable and fusionable is 'pudgala'."
The 4 types of Pudgala:
- Skandha - The impartite portion of a Paramanu
- Desa - Imaginary portion of a skandha
- Pradesa - an indivisible part, jointed with the skandha
- Paramanu - the minutest part, separate from a skandha.
The smallest and minutest form of a Pudgala is a Paramanu, which cannot be cut, pierced, grasped, burnt and divided.
The 4 qualities:
- colour
- taste
- odour
- touch
Pudgala dravya: substance