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Scientific Secrets of Jainism
they are made of infinite particles (atoms). It, therefore, seems logical and true to believe that light is lifeless.
The Sēnapraśna mentions that light of electricity or a lamp, touching the body of a man, causes a failure-of-conduct (Aticāra) but it is not quite fruitless or frustrate. The sense of this sentence needs to be understood.
Firstly, Ācārya Śri Sēnasūriji Mahārāja clearly states that he heard it from Ācārya Śri Hirasūriji. It means that perhaps there was no reference to this in Agamic literature or any literature of tapagaccha which was available at that time.
Secondly, instead of answering the question whether light of lamps etc. dies by touching the body of man in moonlight from Agamic literature and literature of the tradition of tapagaccha, he quotes from 'Sandēhadolāvali' of Kharataragaccha written 200-250 years ago. This means that tapag had no such tradition but it came into tapagaccha from Kharataragaccha.
Thirdly, if light of electricity or a lamp touches the body of one who is performing Sāmāyika. Pratikramana etc. it causes a failure of conduct and the reason for this is that if light comes from somewhere into darkness at the place of performance of Sāmāyika, Pratikramana etc. concentration is broken and mind is disturbed. Also, everything looks clear in light and the performance of Sāmāyika, Pratikramana etc. becomes easy and comfortable. The performer, therefore, likes light and silently supports the act of lighting up the lamp. But it is not fit for a monk or nun to support it because he is forbidden to do it or cause or support it to be done. It can, therefore, be inferred that Acārya Śri Hirasūriji perhaps said that under these circumstances the performance of rites i.e. Sāmāyika, Pratikramana etc. of monks and nuns causes a failureof-conduct because it supports the act of lighting up the lamp.
According to the modern physics also light is only in the form of electromagnetic waves. The atmosphere is now-a-days teeming with thousand million kinds of electromagnetic waves. Their speed i.e. velocity is also as great as the velocity of light. i.e. 3,00,000 km/sec. Its frequency is very high or very low and, therefore, we cannot see it.
Thus, thousand million kinds of electromagnetic waves dash against every living being on the earth now-a-days. If we think that they all are living beings, it would be difficult to live on earth. Every living being emits, from his body,
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