Scientific Contents in Prakrta Canons

SR No.: 001670
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: N L Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 1996
Total Pages: 608
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Science, & Religion
File Size: 9 MB

Page 144

122 0. Scientific Contents in Prākṛta Canons
The invisibles have to believed on the authority of allknowing Jinas. The invisibility of smell and air is due to gaseous state. However, their liquid and solid forms have been proved to be visible. Similarly, the visibility of consciousness, cognition and conation, faith, hells and heavens is a matter worth rethinking.
These topics may also be classified in two ways (a) living and (b) non-living. Later on, all these topics were classified under six basic realities in the universe as below :
(a) Living (b) Non-living
(1) Mattergy, (2-3) Medium of rest
and motion, (5) Space and ( 6 ) Time.
Thus, the infinite objects involve only six variety of Reals which one could learn or study about.
Doors of Disquisitions: Aspective Studies
Dixit seems to be right in saying that Jaina scholars were in the habit of 'Aspective Studies' about objects. They have gradually developed a ready-made list of such aspects. This development could be surmised from the descriptions available in canons of different periods. Not only this, one finds some parallel and seemingly unrelated lists in the two traditions. While Svetāmbaras1 have aspect listings from 10 to 36 finally culminating in 20 to 23, the Digambarass have 6, 8 or 20 aspects from different considerations. Some lists have only aspects of living activities as the aim while others have general aspects as well. However, inclusive similarities could be traced in both types of lists. The Svetambara lists are contained in Bhagavati, Prajñāpanā and Jivābhigama while Digambara lists are contained in Satkhandagama, Niyamasāra, Mūlācāra and Tattvärtha-sutra. Table 1 shows that the number of aspects varies in each text and Table 2 indicates that the names of aspects also vary therein with a final numerical agreement of 20 aspects in Jivabhigama and Mūlācāra.
This aspectology of the Jainas is canonically termed as Anuyogadvāra system or a system of Doors of Disquisitions