Varn Padarth Ka Ek Abhinna Guna - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Varn Padarth ka Ek Abhinna Guna" by Anilkumar Jain, focusing on the Jain perspective of color:

The book "Varn Padarth ka Ek Abhinna Guna" (Color: An Inseparable Quality of Matter) by Anilkumar Jain explores the concept of color from a Jain philosophical standpoint, comparing it with modern scientific understanding.

Jain Perspective on Color and Matter:

The Six Substances: Jainism posits that the entire universe (loka) is composed of six fundamental substances: Jiva (soul), Pudgala (matter), Dharma (principle of motion), Adharma (principle of rest), Akasha (space), and Kala (time).
Pudgala (Matter): Of these, only Pudgala is considered "rupa" (corporeal or having form). This "rupa" signifies the presence of four inherent qualities: touch (sparsha), taste (rasa), smell (gandha), and color (varna). These qualities are inseparable from matter, whether it exists as an atom (anu) or a collection of atoms (skandha). The other five substances are considered "arupa" (non-corporeal) as they lack these four qualities.
Color as a Fundamental Quality: Color is presented as a fundamental and intrinsic quality of matter (Pudgala). It's not an external attribution but an inherent characteristic.
Five Basic Colors: Jainism identifies five primary colors: blue (neela), yellow (peela), red (lal), white (safed), and black (kala). Every material object, including atoms, is believed to possess at least one of these colors.
Infinite Possibilities: While there are five primary colors, the intensity of these colors can vary infinitely. This means that an atom can have an infinite range of intensity within one of the five basic colors. Therefore, the number of colors can be considered infinite.
Atoms vs. Aggregates (Skandhas): An atom itself possesses one of the five basic colors. However, when atoms combine to form aggregates (skandhas) or objects, the color of the aggregate is a result of the mixture and interaction of the colors of its constituent atoms. An aggregate can thus exhibit colors that are different from the five basic ones, arising from the combination of varying intensities and types of atomic colors.

Comparison with Modern Science:

Scientific Explanation of Color: Modern science explains color through the wave theory of light. Light is an electromagnetic spectrum, and different wavelengths within the visible spectrum correspond to different colors. Our perception of an object's color is due to the wavelengths of light it reflects or emits after being illuminated.
Color and Energy: Scientifically, color is linked to the energy and frequency of light waves. The interaction of light with matter, involving absorption and reflection of specific wavelengths, determines the perceived color of an object.
Quarks and Gluons: Modern physics identifies quarks and gluons as the fundamental constituents of matter. The text mentions that quarks are believed to have "color charge" (a theoretical concept, not related to visual color) which can be "red" or "blue" (and "green," though not explicitly mentioned in this excerpt). This is a theoretical construct to explain the stability of particles (like baryons).
Reconciling Jain and Scientific Views:
- Color as Intrinsic: The scientific understanding that even fundamental particles like quarks possess an intrinsic property (analogous to "color charge" in physics) supports the Jain concept of color being an inseparable quality of matter. Even if we cannot visually perceive the color of an atom, it is understood to possess an inherent characteristic that determines how it interacts with light.
- Five Primary Colors vs. Infinite Spectrum: The Jain concept of five primary colors is reconciled with the scientific understanding of an infinite spectrum by differentiating between primary (mool) colors and derived (vyutpanna) colors. The five Jain colors are seen as fundamental categories, while the vast array of colors we perceive are derived from the combinations and intensities of these basic colors, much like how a mixture of primary colors creates secondary and tertiary colors.
- White and Black: White is explained scientifically as the reflection or emission of all visible wavelengths, and black as the absorption of all visible wavelengths. The text suggests that from a Jain perspective, these can also be considered as specific "colors" or states of matter's interaction with light, even if they represent the absence of specific reflected or absorbed wavelengths in the conventional sense.
- Skandhas and Their Colors: The text concludes that while atoms have one of the five basic colors, the colors of aggregates (skandhas) are variable and depend on the composition of their constituent atoms. This aligns with the observation that objects can have diverse colors beyond the five basic ones.

Ethical Conclusion:

The text ends with a strong ethical message rooted in Jain philosophy: the essence of knowledge is to not harm any living being. Ahimsa (non-violence) and Samata (equanimity) are the true dharma. This emphasis on ethics highlights that the understanding of the universe, including the nature of matter and color, ultimately serves to reinforce the core principles of Jainism.

In essence, the book argues that the Jain understanding of color as an intrinsic, fundamental quality of matter, with five primary categories, is consistent with and can be elucidated by modern scientific discoveries about light, matter, and fundamental particles. The perceived diversity of colors in the observable world is a result of the complex interplay of these fundamental atomic qualities.