Kanada, the father of Visheshika system of Indian Philosophy, propounded the Fivefold Atomic Theory long before Dalton and the Ninefold Elemental Theory.
The Ninefold Elemental Theory
The entire Universe is made up of Nine Elements – The Elemental Five – earth, water, fire, ether, air plus the four elements – Time, Space, Self and Mind.
Mind is finer matter in vibration. What is Mind ? Never matter. What is Matter ? Never Mind !
Mind is a steady stream of thoughts. Mind creates Reality, yet Mind veils Reality. Indeed Mind is omnipotent.
Everything is internalised and externalised
By that arch villain, Mind !
From the Macrocosm to the Microcosm
All this is Mind !
Know all this to be Non Self
Know all this to be Non Being
Like the blueness in the sky
Like the water in the mirage
So is this visible Universe
In Self Supreme, Absolute !
Self is an utter Being and all these are its Becomings
This visible Universe
Is verily the Self !
What Nature hath buried
Is the living lordly Self
The unfolding of this Self
Is the process of Education
The Fivefold Atomic Theory
Matter is made up for five types of atoms – the aerial atoms, the igneous atoms, the aqueous atoms, the etheric atoms and the terrene atoms.