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29. Jainism And Science:
Solutions Of Some Problems
In the present age, science has become an essential component of human life. Every man, therefore, looks at a problem in a scientific manner and tries to find its solution with a scientific method. Though a number of scientific principles are found in Jain scriptures, there are many present-day problems on which science and Jain scriptures clearly differ.
We shall discuss here some such problems. Length/Height of Living Beings : The 'Trişthisalākāpuruşacaritra' written by śri Hēmacandrācāryaji (V. Era 1145-1229) is an unique work among Jain mythological works (Purāņas). Many historical references are found in its 'Parisista Parva'. In this work he has elaborately described the lives of sixty three great men. The heights of body of all of them is given in Jain scriptures.
According to this book, the height of body of Bhagavān Rşabhadēva was 500 Dhanuşyas (1 Dhanuşya= 6 feet). One Dhanusya is equal to 4 hands. Taking one hand to be equal to one and half feet, the height of the body of Bhagavān Ādinātha (Aşabhadēva) measures 3000 feet. In the same way the height of the body of Bhagavān Sāntinātha measures 40 Dhanusyas i.e. 240 feet. The height of the body of Bhagavān Mahāvira was seven hands i.e. ten and half feet. Today we don't believe all this to be true but we should very well bear it in mind that not a single principle of science is unchangeable. The principles that have been proved today to be true, can be proved tomorrow to be untrue.
Recently, Carl Sagan, an American scientist, has developed a cosmic calendar. It is very similar to Jain time cycle. According to scientists, the
produced out of the Sun nearly four and half thousand million years ago. They have contemplated the period from this incident to the incident of the destruction of the whole universe to be of 12 months i.e. 365
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