Paramanu is a Sanskrit word used in the Vaisheshika school of thought in the

Indian Philosophy Indian philosophy consists of philosophical traditions of the Indian subcontinent. The philosophies are often called darśana meaning, "to see" or "looking at." Ānvīkṣikī means “critical inquiry” or “investigation." Unlike darśan ...

to denote that part of a ''bhuta'', which is indivisible, indestructible and eternal. In other words, the nitya (eternal) form of the four ''dravyas'' ''prithvi, jal, tejas'' and ''vayu'' is called as ''Paramanu''.

Etymology

Paramanu is a Sanskrit compound word having two terms ''Parama'' and ''Anu''. The literal meaning of the Sanskrit term Parama is ultimate. Similarly the literal meaning of the term Anu is smallest particle. Anu is the Sanskrit term used for denoting atom. Thus the literal meaning of the compound Sanskrit word paramanu is ''ultimate atom''.

Description

In the Vaisheshika school, all the substances of the universe are categorised into seven '' padarthas''. They are ''dravya'', ''guna'', ''karma'', ''samanya'', ''vishesha'', ''samvaaya'' and ''abhava''. 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''. Paramanu is that smallest part of these bhutas which is indivisible, indestructible and whose existence is eternal. Their eternal existence is Akāraṇavat. The anitya (non eternal) form of these four bhutas is called as ''Karya''.

Jainism

In Jainism it is one of the two types of

Pudgala In Jainism, Pudgala (or ') is one of the six Dravya (Jainism), 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'' (motio ...

(matter), the other being

Skandha ' (Sanskrit) or (Pāḷi) means "heaps, aggregates, collections, groupings, clusters". In Buddhism, it refers to the five aggregates of clinging (), the five material and mental factors that take part in the perpetual process of craving, cli ...

. 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.

References

Atomism Jain philosophical concepts Religious cosmologies Indian philosophical concepts Indian philosophy Metaphysics {{cosmology-stub