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

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126 : Scientific Contents in Prākrta Canons
learning about any object of living or non-living, visible or nonvisible nature. The induction of topics of investigations (Mārganas ) or/and spiritual stages (Gunasthāna ) and others as disquisition doors was an intermediate stage during canonic period when only life activities became primarily important. The first list of Bhagavati lead to this surmise. However, out of six or eight D. D. systems, the latter was preferred by Umāsvāti, Aryarakṣita, Pūjyapāda, Virasena and others while 6 D. D. System of Mūlācāra was overlooked. This seems to be reasonable as there is duplication in the lists as suggested by Jaina recently as below. Moreover, the 8 D. D. system is more generalised by introduction of 'modal' door into it which the 6 D.D. system does not have. This 8 D. D. system does also involve the 4-6 positing systems and the valid cognition system. The 8 D. D. system does show a good amount of scientific approach. Doors of Disquisitions in Different sources
Table 2 gives a comparative list of canonical disquisition doors from different sources. The list, on consolidation, suggests that
(a) Canonically objects could be studied through 79 aspects.
(b) Many aspects seem to have synonymity as shown below : (i) Bhavyatva, Carama, Antakriya Salvation capacity (ii) Caritra, Samyama, Samyata Restraint ( iii ) Prajiāpana, Sat, Năma, Nirdesa Naming (iv) Darśana, Samyaktva, Drsti Faith (v) Kāla, Sthiti
Life span (vi) Antara, Kāyasthiti
Interval (vii) Jiva, Kāya, Jivasthāna,
Classification, Taxology Jiva-Samāsa-Vidhāna (viii) Parimāna, Sānkhya
Numerical strength (ix) Upayoga, Pasyattā
Consciousness (*) Avagāhana, Kșetra
Accomodation ( xi ) Paryāya, Višesa, Bhāva Modes, modifications