Nyaya-Vaisheshika categories (Study)
by Diptimani Goswami | 2014 | 61,072 words
This page relates ‘Qualities (14): Sneha (Viscidity)’ of the study on the Nyaya-Vaisheshika categories with special reference to the Tarkasangraha by Annambhatta. Both Nyaya and Vaisesika are schools of ancient Indian Philosophy, and accepted in their system various padarthas or objects of valid knowledge. This study investigates how the Tarkasamgraha reflects these categories in the combined Nyayavaisesika school.
Qualities (14): Sneha (Viscidity)
The next quality in the list of twenty-four qualities is sneha (viscidity). This quality is the special quality as it is found only in one substance. According to Praśastapāda sneha is oiliness and it is the special quality of ap (water). This quality is nitya in atoms of ap and anitya in composite ones.[1] This quality is regarded as the cause of forming lump of powdered objects.[2] It may be asked here why a special quality sneha is required for such piṇḍībhāva, i.e., the peculiar combination which holds particles of powder together, and why dravatva cannot serve this purpose. To this the Nyāya-Vaiśeṣikas reply that if dravatva can make lumps then melted gold will also form lumps of powder which is not possible. Hence, viscidity is regarded as the extra-ordinary cause of forming such lumps.[3] Viśvanātha adds that its abundance in oil helps in combustion.[4]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Vaiśeṣikadarśanam with Praśastapādabhāṣya, p. 221
[2]:
cūrṇādipiṇḍībhāvaheturguṇaḥ snehaḥ. Tarkasaṃgraha, p. 20
[3]:
sneha evāsādhāraṇakāraṇam. Nyāyabodhinī on Tarkasaṃgraha, p. 21
[4]:
tailāntare tatprakarṣāddahanasyānukūlatā. Bhāṣāpariccheda, p. 258