Types of Śakti

According to Mīmāṃsā, potency is of two types, natural and derived. An example of the first is the potency of burning as located in fire. This potency is produced along with fire itself from the same collection of causes. An example of the second is when potency is produced in the paddy by the act of sprinkling. Fire is said to be the cause of burning. But it is found that there is no burning even though fire is present, when a particular spell or a gem is present. The same fire is found to burn when another special kind of gem is brought there. Thus fire itself cannot be accepted as the cause of burning. Fire is actually characterized by a particular potency for burning. When some gem or spell is present that potency is destroyed. So fire cannot burn. But when another special kind of gem is brought in the potency again is produced. So fire can burn. Again, in a sacrifice only the paddy which has been sprinkled can be used. So there must be some distinction between the paddy which is sprinkled and which is not sprinkled. This is possible only on the admission that the act of sprinkling has produced a potency in the paddy.

The Naiyāyika may argue that admission of potency is not necessary. A particular gem or spell is only a preventive factor. If it is assumed that the absence of a preventive factor is also one of the causes for the production of an effect then fire itself will be the cause of burning. But the opponent says that absence cannot be a cause of anything. It is observed that everywhere an effect is produced by something positive.^[1]