Skandha (Sanskrit) means "heaps, aggregates, collections, groupings". In the religion of
Jainism
Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current time cycle bein ...
, Skandha is a combination of Paramanus (elementary particles). In contrast to Buddhism that allows aggregates of non-matters, Jainism allows only aggregation between matter (only first type out of the five types of aggregates allowed in
Buddhism
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religions, Indian religion or Indian philosophy#Buddhist philosophy, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha. ...
). Jainism doesn't include the last four types of aggregates of Buddhism because those phenomena are explained in Jainism by the groupings between matter (
karma particles, second last from the list below) and
Atman (unified individual whose existence is denied in Buddhism). A grouping between matter and Atman is not considered a Skandha but is considered a
Bandha (bondage).
Each Paramanu has "intensity points" of aridness or cohesiveness that, because of transformation, can increase or decrease between one and infinity. These Paramanus can combine with each other to create Skandhas or Aggregates when there is a difference of two "intensity points", whether it is arid or cohesive or whether having even or odd "intensity points" except the minimum (one) "intensity point". For example, a paramanu with two points of cohesiveness can combine with a paramanu of four points of cohesiveness or aridness; and that of three points with that of five points and so on. This definition is given in
Pravachanasara
''Pravachanasara'', is a text composed by Jain monk, Kundakunda
Kundakunda was a Digambara Jain monk and philosopher, who likely lived in the 2nd CE century CE or later.
His date of birth is māgha māsa, śukla pakṣa, pañcamī tit ...
.
Skandhas and Paramanus are two types of
Pudgala
In Jainism, Pudgala (or ') is one of the six Dravyas, or aspects of reality that fabricate the world we live in. The six ''dravya''s include the jiva and the fivefold divisions of ajiva (non-living) category: ''dharma'' (motion), ''adharma'' ( ...
s (Matter).
Skandha are of six types: Gross-gross, gross, gross-fine, fine-gross, fine, and fine-fine.
This classification is given in
Niyamsara
Niyamasara is a Jain text authored by ''Acharya Kundakunda'', a Digambara Jain acharya. It is described by its commentators as the Bhagavat Shastra. It expounds the path to liberation.
Subject matter
''Niyamasara'' deals with the three ethico-s ...
.
# Gross-gross: Solids, such as stone and wood, that when broken cannot be united again by themselves.
# Gross: Milk, water, etc. separated but can unite without any help.
# Gross-fine: The sunlight, shade, moon light, darkness etc. One is not able to split them. One is not able to grab them with his hands.
# Fine-gross: The objects of the four senses of touch, taste, smell, and hearing are even though are known by skin, tongue, nose and ears but still cannot be perceived by eyes and that is why they are fine-gross in nature.
# Fine: The matter particles of the
karma
Karma (; sa, कर्म}, ; pi, kamma, italic=yes) in Sanskrit means an action, work, or deed, and its effect or consequences. In Indian religions, the term more specifically refers to a principle of cause and effect, often descriptivel ...
are fine in nature and cannot be perceived by any of the physical senses.
# Fine-fine: Finer than the karma particles are extremely fine in nature. They are finer than karma particles.
Notes
{{Jainism topics
Jain philosophical concepts