 Jaina atomist theory treats matter, space and time as composed of indivisible smallest parts (Pines 1987). Although natural philosophy may not have occupied a large role in Jaina thought, the reason for positing atoms is as the ultimate cause of perceived physical qualities (Nyayavijayaji 1998). They posited a homogenous matter out of which every material body is composed, in contrast to the atomism of the Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika and Buddhist systems, which posited atoms of different kinds for each of the elements earth, water, fire and air (Gangopadhyaya 1980). Atoms thus bring different properties to aggregates, as, for example, the addition of water atoms causes earth atoms to stick together (Dasgupta 1987). The tendency of atoms to cohere into aggregates was thought to come from their own nature and not from external pressures (Nyayavijayaji 1998).