Ancient Indian Ideas of Paramaṇu (Atom) and Reṇu (Molecule): Insights from Vaisheshika Philosophy

Abstract: This research paper examines the theories of atoms and molecules developed within Vaisheshika philosophy. Through an analysis of the textual material found in Maharshi Kaṇada’s Vaisheshika Sutras (6th–2nd centuries BCE) and subsequent commentaries, the study explores the systematic conception of indivisible particles (paramaṇu), their aggregation into molecular formations (reṇu), and the physical principles governing their interactions. The paper situates this theory within the broader Indian knowledge system, compares it with other atomic traditions, and evaluates its philosophical and proto-scientific significance