The quest to unveil the secrets of the universe has long stirred passionate debates, with countless voices vying for recognition over who truly discovered what first. Yet, one tale of profound discovery, acknowledged but often shrouded in the shadows of history, is the story of the atom’s origin.

Indeed, the concept of the atom was not born with John Dalton but rather whispered through the sands of time some 2,500 years earlier by an Indian sage and philosopher—Acharya Kanad Muni. In a world far removed from modern science, Kanad envisioned the building blocks of existence, laying the foundations for what we now recognize as atomic theory. This discovery awaits the recognition it so richly deserves.

The Untold History of Kanad Muni

For many years, Indian history has remained overshadowed by Western narratives. The untold stories of many great discoveries made by Indian philosophers are yet to be told to the whole world. One such great story is of Acharya Kanad Muni who is the real Father of Atomic Theory. 

Kanad Muni lived around the 6th Century BCE and is the founder of the Vaisheshika school of Hindu philosophy, which is one of the six classical schools (darshanas) in Indian philosophy. 

He proposed the idea that matter is composed of indivisible and indestructible particles called “paramanu” meaning atom. He believed that they were the fundamental building blocks of the universe. 

He mentions in his Vaisheshika sutra about these fundamental particles and theorizes this revolutionary concept that had the potential to shake the world of science, which it even did later on when Dalton put forward his postulates on atomic theory. 

This sutra is known to be one of the earliest texts on physics and the creation of the universe. He also mentions how the atoms tend to be in two states – absolute rest and motion. This historical text also covers topics such as Dharma, Laws of motion, The nature of moksha and yoga, Maya, and much more. These topics were surely esoteric for that given period of time, and some of them still remain to be so.

Further, in his theory of atoms, he states that there are nine constituents of the universe – the classes of atoms being the elements (Air, Water, Fire, Earth), space, time, ether, mind, and souls. He believed that every object that has been created in this universe is made up of atoms which then form connections with each other and form molecules (anu). 

Just imagine the boundless courage and visionary “madness” it must take to peer beyond the visible world and grasp the microscopic truths hidden within the cosmos. Picture a mind so free and so unshackled by convention, that it dares to see the unseen, unraveling the mysteries woven into the very fabric of existence. How extraordinary his thoughts must flow, and how wondrously he must perceive the world around him, with eyes that glimpse the infinite in the smallest of details.

To see what others don’t, to feel what many ignore, and to understand what’s unknown.

To shape such nebulous ideas so delicately and web into an organized structure for understanding the components of the universe. Acharya Kanad Muni was someone who had a vision. Who was brave enough to keep faith in himself, and had the will to understand this Bhramaanda (universe). 

As one needs to believe in something out of the world to understand the truth of the world; Kanad Muni gave form to the theory of atoms which then revolutionized the world of science. 

And now’s the time the world gets to know about the true Father of The Atomic Theory – Acharya Kanad Muni

Kanad Muni’s Observations of The Universe

Kanad Muni was way ahead of his time as he mentioned about such entities of the universe that were seldom observed in everyday situations. They existed and Kanad Muni acknowledged them and gave them understanding. One such great acknowledgment was of ether. 

Ether Is Nothing But A Cosmic Vacuum

Ether—a cosmic vacuum, vast and ethereal, embracing all within it while quietly cradling the dance of existence. Does this stir a chord in the hearts of science enthusiasts? In its essence, ether is elusive, a serene force that remains inert under ordinary conditions.

Like a silent alchemist, it holds within itself the qualities of acid and alcohol, yet it seldom stirs. It dissolves all that enters its realm, offering a tranquil space where even the most reactive elements, like sodium and potassium—known for their fiery nature—find their fervor subdued and lulled into calm by the gentle embrace of ether. In its presence, the tempest softens, allowing other compounds to meet and intertwine, guided by the quiet mystery of this cosmic medium.

Time and space are complimentary of ether. The three substances are in reality one only.

Can you believe it? He not only talked about ether as a substance that was visible to us but also enlightened the atomic-level properties weaved in the web of words of his mystic understanding!

The Mind Forms Relations With The Soul

The mind is capable of forming relations with souls even though it is entirely material. Further, he relates the behavior of macroscopic entities like us humans and our minds with microscopic building blocks; atoms and molecules. How we behave like from what we’re made of.

The mind is one such entity. Atoms undergo changes, they produce effects, however they do not initiate changes. Change permeates all, yet it only finds meaning when mirrored in the mind. 

The mind itself is ever-shifting, molding itself to every object it encounters—otherwise, it remains dormant and still. The soul, however, stands beyond such transformations. It is the primal mover, the spark that initiates change in all else.

 While cognition, pleasure, pain, desire, aversion, will, and impressions are linked to the soul, they are mere expressions of its will, not its essence. These qualities hint at a state of “indetermination of will,” where the soul remains unbound and eternal, untouched by the flux of existence. From this truth emerges the understanding that atoms, minds, and souls are the fundamental units of creation. And at the pinnacle of all souls resides the Supreme Person—the divine presence we call God.

The Takeaway

Across time, some ideas shine with a brilliance that defies the ages, and Acharya Kanad Muni’s vision was one such spark. Long before modern science, he peered into the unseen, daring to imagine the universe in its smallest building blocks. His concept of the atom, born centuries before John Dalton’s theories, reflects a mind that saw beyond the ordinary into the depths of existence.

Kanad Muni’s legacy, though largely overshadowed, is a testament to the boundless potential of human thought. His insights into atomic theory were not just scientific musings; they were expressions of a timeless pursuit to understand the very fabric of creation. It’s time to honor the true origins of this profound knowledge and recognize Acharya Kanad Muni as the Father of Atomic Theory—a visionary who glimpsed the cosmic dance of particles long before the world caught on.