Dr. Shubhankar Mishra
This is the captivating story of ancient India. Step with me into the timeless corridors of a land where, around 600 BCE, a radiant era dawned, an age that became a beacon of intellectual brilliance and spiritual awakening. It was a time etched deeply into the chronicles of human achievement, when wisdom flowed like sacred rivers, nourishing both the land and the soul.
In the tranquil ashramas, cloaked in forest whispers, and within the vibrant halls of ancient learning centres, seekers gathered – hearts afire with inquiry, minds alight with wonder. Through profound shastrarthas (scholarly debates), they wove intricate tapestries of thought. Their voices rose in philosophical symphony, echoing across time, while their eyes reflected the still depths of ceaseless contemplation.
These seekers journeyed beyond the visible world into the mysteries of philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and the very fabric of existence. Through their relentless quest, they laid the stones that would guide generations, across continents, across time.
Kanāda: The Seeker
of Sustainability
Among these was a young ascetic, as serene as rustling leaves. In humble solitude, he would gather the tiniest grains scattered across the paddy fields during moments free from study and daily duties. This quiet ritual was born not of idleness, but of reverence. Each grain was a silent hymn to nature’s grace, a whispered gratitude for life’s fragile gift. Thus, he came to be known as Kanabhuk or Kanāda – ‘the one who consumes the smallest grains for his sustenance,’ and more deeply, a symbol of mindful living and sustainability.
His simple act embodies a profound ecological wisdom. It teaches that true sustainability springs from humility, from gratitude, and from a deep respect for the earth’s offerings. Today, as our world trembles under the weight of over-consumption and depletion, Kanāda’s timeless lesson shines like a guiding light- gentle, yet powerful.
This young sage, Kanāda, was born in Prabhas Patan, near the sacred city of Dwarka in present-day Gujarat. His father, Ulka, a revered saint and distinguished Sanskrit scholar, nurtured an environment steeped in learning, introspection, and spiritual inquiry. From an early age, Kanāda exhibited an insatiable curiosity about the cosmos and its hidden truths. Drawn to the profound mysteries of existence, he dedicated his life to the relentless pursuit of knowledge.
The Vaisheshika Philosophy and Atomic Theory
This rich philosophical backdrop sets the stage for Kanāda’s most enduring legacy—his pioneering scientific and metaphysical insights, most notably his revolutionary conception of the atom. In his seminal Sanskrit treatise, the Vaiśeṣika Sūtra—broadly translated as ‘Aphorism: The Science of Distinction’ Kanāda proposed that all matter is composed of minute, indivisible particles known as paramāṇu. These fundamental units, he asserted, are the building blocks of the universe. Centuries ahead of his time, Kanāda’s vision blends scientific intuition with spiritual depth, affirming the enduring relevance and brilliance of ancient knowledge systems.
Another popular tale surrounds the origin of the name Kanāda. It is said that because he discovered the ultimate atomic element, referred to as kana (meaning “particle”) – he came to be known as Kanād, meaning “the knower” or “seer of particles.” However, the sage’s original name was Kashyapa. Due to his extraordinary insight and philosophical depth, he was also known by other names such as Uluka, Pailuka, and more, each reflecting different dimensions of his intellectual and spiritual legacy.
Maharshi Kanāda founded the Vaisheshika school of philosophy to teach disciples about the nature of science and reality. In an era often characterized by mysticism, Kanāda’s system stood apart through its logical and empirical approach to existence.
The Vaisheshika philosophy organizes all experience into seven fundamental categories called padārthas: substance (dravya), quality (guṇa), action (karma), generality (sāmānya), particularity (viśeṣa), inherence (samavāya), and non-existence (abhāva). This conceptual framework offered a systematic method to observe and analyze the material world, firmly grounded in careful observation and reason. Today, the world recognizes and admires the remarkable scientific foresight embodied in Kanāda’s visionary work.
The Vaisheshika Sūtras explore a wide range of topics, from the nature of light and motion to the formation of atomic combinations. Kanāda envisioned the atom as eternal, indivisible, and indestructible concepts that remarkably anticipate many principles of modern atomic theory. Long before the invention of microscopes, he proposed that all matter is composed of paramāṇu, the smallest, indivisible particles. These paramāṇu combine to form the vast diversity of the observable universe, interacting according to natural laws.
Kanāda further explained the formation of binary molecules, known as dvyanuka, which consist of pairs of atoms, demonstrating his intuitive grasp of molecular behavior. According to his theory, the material world originated from the condensation of these paramāṇu—the most subtle and fundamental units of matter. He asserted that substances could only be divided to a certain limit; beyond this, further division is impossible. This indivisible unit is the paramāṇu or atom.
Moreover, Kanāda believed that these atoms are in constant motion and operate under the governance of natural laws. Though John Dalton formalized atomic theory in the 19th century, Kanāda laid its philosophical groundwork over two millennia earlier. His contribution is extraordinary not only for its antiquity but also for its rational and systematic insights, which align closely with modern chemistry and physics.
Kanāda’s Enduring Legacy
Kanāda’s contributions to the world underscore the fundamental importance of atomic theory in understanding the natural world. Broadly, an atom is the smallest unit of any substance—the tiniest particle that retains the properties of a chemical element. Every solid, liquid, gas, and plasma consist of neutral or ionized atoms. In other words, all matter is made up of atoms and molecules, and the diversity of substances depends on the types of atoms that compose them.
John Dalton, a British scientist, introduced his atomic theory in 1803, marking a significant milestone in the history of science. He proposed that all matter is composed of tiny, indivisible atoms, and that atoms of different elements combine in fixed ratios to form compounds. At the time, atoms were believed to be the smallest, indestructible units of matter. However, subsequent discoveries in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, such as the electron by J.J. Thomson, the proton by Ernest Rutherford, and the neutron by James Chadwick, revealed that atoms themselves are made up of even smaller particles. These subatomic particles – electrons, protons, and neutrons are now understood to be the fundamental building blocks of elements, reshaping our understanding of atomic structure.
The monumental importance of the atomic concept in the evolution of human thought is eloquently captured by Nobel laureate physicist Richard Feynman, who famously remarked: “If, in some cataclysm, all scientific knowledge were to be destroyed, and only one sentence passed on to future generations, what statement would contain the most information in the fewest words? I believe it is the atomic hypothesis.” Feynman’s reflection highlights the atomic hypothesis, that all things are made of atoms as perhaps the most concise and profound insight in all of science.
Kanāda’s vision extended beyond the realm of matter to include forces akin to gravity and other natural phenomena. He proposed that events in the universe occur due to two fundamental causes: ‘will power’ and the ‘combination of subject and object’. For instance, phenomena such as objects falling to the ground or flames rising upward were seen by him as results of this interaction. Gravity, in this context, played an inspiring and pivotal role. He understood these occurrences as outcomes of elemental interactions and unseen forces—an idea that strikingly resembles the concept of Newtonian gravity in modern science.
A true seer far ahead of his time, Kanāda also classified various means of acquiring knowledge, placing great emphasis on logic, empirical observation, and reasoned analysis. His holistic approach stands as a powerful testament to a worldview where spirituality and rational thought were not opposing forces but deeply intertwined.
It is said that in the twilight of his life, while others prepared to depart with sacred chants, Kanāda’s final words echoed the essence of his lifelong quest. Whispering softly, yet with unwavering conviction, he uttered:
“Peelavah… Peelavah… Peelavah…”
(“Atom… Atom… Atom…”)
With these last words, he closed his eyes in serene calm, having glimpsed the divine through the atom—the tiniest seed of all creation.
Maharshi Kanāda was not merely a philosopher or mystic, but a pioneering scientific thinker. His work stands as a testament to the ancient Indian tradition in which science, philosophy, and spirituality are not seen as separate disciplines, but as interwoven paths leading to the same ultimate truth. Through his profound insight into the nature of reality, he taught that even the tiniest particle holds a glimpse of the infinite—that what we perceive with our senses is but a doorway to deeper layers of existence. This vision resonates deeply with the spirit of the Rigveda, which proclaims:
“Ā no bhadrāḥ kratavo yantu viśvatāḥ”
“May noble thoughts come to us from every direction of the universe.”
Kanāda’s legacy reminds us that true knowledge transcends boundaries—of matter and spirit, of science and faith—and calls us to seek wisdom from all corners of creation.
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The writer is an Indian government representative serving as the Deputy Secretary General at the World Hindi Secretariat, Mauritius. The views expressed are personal.
