According to Vaisheshika, atoms are the fundamental building blocks of the physical world. They are the smallest, indivisible particles that make up all matter. The philosophy of Vaisheshika holds that the physical world is made up of a combination of these atoms and their various properties.

In Vaisheshika, atoms are seen as the ultimate reality, existing independently of human perception. They are considered eternal and unchanging, unlike the constantly changing world that we experience through our senses. This belief is rooted in the idea that atoms are the ultimate cause of all material objects and their properties.

Vaisheshika also proposes that atoms have different qualities or characteristics, which are known as gunas. These gunas include color, taste, smell, touch, and sound. It is through the combination of these gunas that atoms form different types of matter. For example, atoms with the gunas of sweetness and whiteness combine to form sugar, while atoms with the gunas of sourness and yellowness combine to form lemons.

Furthermore, Vaisheshika holds that atoms also have a natural tendency to combine and form larger, more complex structures. This is known as the law of parinama, which states that the transformation of atoms into different combinations leads to the creation of the physical world as we know it.

The relationship between atoms and the physical world in Vaisheshika can be seen as one of cause and effect. Atoms are the ultimate cause of the physical world, and their various combinations and transformations lead to the creation of all material objects. This philosophy also emphasizes the interconnectedness and interdependence of all things in the physical world. Each atom and its properties play a crucial role in the formation and functioning of the world around us.

In conclusion, Vaisheshika sees atoms as the foundation of the physical world and the ultimate reality. Their properties and combinations are responsible for the creation and functioning of all material objects, and their interconnectedness highlights the intricate and complex nature of the physical world.