Sage Kanada- "The Atom-Eater"
Sage Kanada was world’s first proponent of “Atomic Theory”. He lived in 6th century BCE. Ulka was his father and his original name was Kashyapa. Seeing his interest in minute particles. As per Vaisheshika Sutra, the atoms are eternal, infinitesimal. He stated that the atom is indivisible and the world is made up of atoms. He stated that each Paramanu has tendancy to combine with another. So when two Paramanus combined the result would be Dwinuka (Bi-atomic). Similarly when four Paramanu or two Dwinuka combine the result would be Chaturanuka or quadruple atom.
Vaisheshika is among the six Astika School of Hindu philosophies (orthodox Vedic systems) of India. This system of thought is closely associated with the School of Logic or Nyaya. Vaisheshika adopts a form of atomism and contends that every object in the physical universe is reducible to a finite number of atoms. This school of thought was expounded by sage Kanada (or Kana-bhuk, literally meaning `atom-eater`). From the 6th century B.C. Nyaya and Vaisheshika are considered sister philosophies.
Vaisheshika (Sanskrit)- One of the six Darshanas or schools of philosophy, founded by Kanada. It is called the Atomistic School, as it teaches the existence of a universe of atoms of a transient character, an endless number of souls and a fixed number of material principles, by the correlation and interaction of which periodical cosmic evolutions take place without any directing Force, save a kind of mechanical law inherent in the atoms; a very materialistic school.