bhutadi. Next
comes the _spars'a_ or the _vayu tanmatra_ (touch-potential) which is
generated by the union of a unit of tamas from bhutadi with the
akas'a tanmatra. The _rupa tanmatra_ (colour-potential) is generated
similarly by the accretion of a unit of tamas from bhutadi; the
_rasa tanmatra_ (taste-potential) or the _ap tunmatra_ is also similarly
formed. This ap tanmatra again by its union with a unit of tamas
from bhutadi produces the _gandha tanmatra_ (smell-potential) or
the _k@siti tanmatra_ [Footnote ref 2]. The difference of tanmatras or
infra-atomic units and atoms (_parama@nu_) is this, that the tanmatras
have only the potential power of affecting our senses, which must be
grouped and regrouped in a particular form to constitute a new existence
as atoms before they can have the power of affecting our senses.
It is important in this connection to point out that the classification
of all gross objects as k@siti, ap, tejas, marut and vyoman is
not based upon a chemical analysis, but from the points of view
of the five senses through which knowledge of them could be
brought home to us. Each of our senses can only apprehend a
particular quality and thus five different ultimate substances are
said to exist corresponding to the five qualities which may be
grasped by the five senses. In accordance with the existence of
these five elements, the existence of the five potential states or
tanmatras was also conceived to exist as the ground of the five
gross forms.

The five classes of atoms are generated from the tanmatras as
follows: the sound-potential, with accretion of rudiment matter
from bhutadi generates the akasa-atom. The touch-potentials combine
with the vibratory particles (sound-potential) to generate the

____________________________________________________________________

[Footnote 1: Dr Seal's _Positive Sciences of the Ancient Hindus_.]

[Footnote 2: There were various ways in which the genesis of tanmatras and
atoms were explained in literatures other than Sa@mkhya; for some account
of it see Dr Seal's _Positive Sciences of the Ancient Hindus_.]

253

vayu-atom. The light-and-heat potentials combine with touch-potentials
and sound-potentials to produce the tejas-atom. The
taste-potentials combine with light-and-heat potentials, touch-potentials
and sound-potentials to generate the ap-atom and the
smell-potentials combine with the preceding potentials to generate
the earth-atom. The akas'a-atom