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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166 : Scientific Contents in Prākrta Canons
titative nature like the scale of hardness etc. makes them still more refined.
(c) Gravimetric Effects — All systems agree to the gravimetric effects in matter except the Vaiseșikas. The Jainas have two ( four earlier ) such effects - lightness and heaviness. Their description of 4-touch and 8-touch matter61 leads one to believe that the Vaiseșika's touch effects are based on atoms. The Jainas too propose atoms to be weightless and therefore surfaceless. But their term of a-light-a-heavy has been explained to mean very small or negligible weight normally called as weightless. The weightless atoms have only thermal and electrical nature, i.e., they are forms of energy. The others have all the four effects with particulate nature. The scientists denote gravimetric effect by density. The word 'ghana' in canons denotes solidification rather than density. The lightness and heaviness, thus, are due to low or high density. This property seems to be more fundamental rather than gross observation of gravimetric effects.
(d) Natural Effects - The Jainas have mentioned fourth type of effect, the natural effect in terms of electrical nature of bodies. There are two such forms - one opposite of the other termed as Snigdha and Rūkşa. This is the property by virtue of which bodies combine with each other. The enumeration of this effect suggests the deeper observation power of Jaina seers. Other philosophies have no mention of these forms though scientists agree to this nature of atoms developed by early twentieth century. But they have three varieties in this regard - positive, negative and zero. The first two terms are equivalent to the Jaina concept. The additional atoms (or matter ) of zero electrical nature were recently discovered. Contrary to others, the Buddhas inclusion of desire of thirst and hunger as touch effects does not seem to be logical as they are preferably concerned with taste and smell. Before concluding the tactile qualities, it must be added that there are many more of them known today. They refer to the