"-Extracts from an article by Professor W.
Norman Brown of the University of Pennsylvania which appeared in
the May, 1939, issue of the BULLETIN of the American Council of
Learned Societies, 907 15th St., Washington, D. C., 25 cents copy.
This issue (#28) contains over 100 pages of a "Basic Bibliography
for Indic Studies."
{FN8-5} The atomic structure of matter was well-known to the ancient
Hindus. One of the six systems of Indian philosophy is VAISESIKA,
from the Sanskrit root VISESAS, "atomic individuality." One of the
foremost VAISESIKA expounders was Aulukya, also called Kanada, "the
atom-eater," born about 2800 years ago.
In an article in EAST-WEST, April, 1934, a summary of VAISESIKA
scientific knowledge was given as follows: "Though the modern
'atomic theory' is generally considered a new advance of science,
it was brilliantly expounded long ago by Kanada, 'the atom-eater.'
The Sanskrit ANUS can be properly translated as 'atom' in the latter's
literal Greek sense of 'uncut' or indivisible. Other scientific
expositions of VAISESIKA treatises of the B.C. era include (1) the
movement of needles toward magnets, (2) the circulation of water
in plants, (3) AKASH or ether, inert and structureless, as a basis
for transmitting subtle forces, (4) the solar fire as the cause of
all other forms of heat, (5) heat as the cause of molecular change,
(6) the law of gravitation as caused by the quality that inheres in
earth-atoms to give them their attractive power or downward pull,
(7) the kinetic nature of all energy; causation as always rooted
in an expenditure of energy or a redistribution of motion, (8)
universal dissolution through the disintegration of atoms, (9)
the radiation of heat and light rays, infinitely small particles,
darting forth in all directions with inconceivable speed (the modern
'cosmic rays' theory), (10) the relativity of time and space.
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