Relation-Based Explanation of the Nyāya–Vaiśeṣika Theory of Atomic Causation (Paramāṇu-kāraṇavāda).

Author(s)	Sk Mohammad Sakim
Country	India
Abstract	Samavāya (inherence) in the Nyāya–Vaiśeṣika system is the eternal relation that connects two inseparable entities (ayutasiddha padārthas), such as part and whole, quality and substance, universal and particular, action and agent, and eternal substance and particularity. In each case, at least one relatum depends inseparably upon the other—for example, “cowness” exists only in an individual cow. Unlike conjunction (saṃyoga), which is non-eternal, inherence is accepted as eternal and irreducible. Nyāya maintains that inherence preserves real difference between relata. Advaita Vedānta, however, interprets such relations as ultimately non-dual (tādātmya), reducing difference to a conceptual level, while Pūrva-Mīmāṃsā accepts both difference and non-difference under svarūpa-sambandha. In the Brahma-sūtra, Adi Shankaracharya argues that inherence leads to infinite regress (anavasthā), since if it is distinct from its relata, it would require another relation to connect it to them. The Naiyāyikas respond that inherence is directly apprehended and intrinsically related to its relata, thus avoiding regress. This debate is central to the coherence of Nyāya–Vaiśeṣika atomism and its realist theory of relations.
Keywords	Atomism, Relation, Samavāya (Inherence), Essential Relation
Field	Arts
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 2, March-April 2026
Published On	2026-03-07
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i02.70373

About IJFMR Fees & Payment Current Issue Publication Archive	Submit Research Paper Track Submission Status Publication Guidelines Publication Ethics Peer Review & Plagiarism	Join as a Reviewer Editors & Reviewers Reviewer Referral Program Get Reviewer Membership Certi.	Website/Journal Policies Usage Policy Content Policies Privacy Policy

Contact Us		+91-9687-828-838	editor@ijfmr.com

International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research