The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (213 page)

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

(Skt., ‘tiny, minute’). In
Vai
e
ika
, a point in space without dimension which evolves from the subtle elements (
tanm
tras
). A
us are eternal, invisible, and intangible, and are in a constant state of disintegration and reintegration. The material universe is evolved through the coming together of a
us. There are four basic
param
us
which are the essential components of earth, water, fire, and air. These correspond to the
mah
bh
tas
of other Indian philosophical systems. In
Kashmir
aivism
, a
u is the soul or basic particle of
iva
. For the application among Terapanth Jains, see
BHIK
U
,
C
RYA