FREE online courses on Concepts of Ayurveda - Dik or Space

 

" Space (or place ) " says Charaka "is the regain of action." According to the Vaiseshikas Dik or space is understood in relation to priority or subsequence, other that of Kala, It is stated to arise out of our notions of here and there; up and down; front and back, and right and left, etc. The notion of Dik or space is based on the spin of the earth around the sun which creates the idea of direction such as East, North, West and South. The idea of East, for instance, arises out of the phenomenon of sun - rise, and is in consequence, fixed towards it. West of course is the opposite of East (i.e) the place of sun - set. North and South are fixed in relation to Dhruvas (i.e) North and South poles. To these directional dimensions are added two more viz., the upper and the lower. Whatever may be the conventional division - Dik or Space, according to the ancient natural philosophers, is a continuam (i.e) Vibhu or all - pervasive, eternal or Sanatana.

 

In the context of the Nyaya Vaiseshika system, Dik or space is considered in view of the position occupied in it by paramanus and their motion during the processes of Samyoga and Vibhaga (I.e.) atomic and molecular association and dissociations (decomposition or disintegration). For example, the proximity or otherwise of substances to one another will constitute a fundamental difference in the chemical reactions (i.e) paka of different substances. In the same manner, the importance of the relative position occupied by paramanus in Space with reference to North and South ( Uttara and Dakshina Dhruvas ) and the temperature factor is emphasised by the Vaiseshikas. Thus, Tejas (Heat and importance in physical and Chemical science, are classified as Dravyas by the Nyaya - Vaiseshikas, as they posses, specific Gunas or predicaments.