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 191

Reality and Matter : Definition, Properties and Classification : 169
2
age has gone much deeper into the science of smells and tastes. Table 13 : Varieties of Smells. System
Number Names 1. Vaiseșikas
Good, bad 2. Jainas
Good, bad 3. Buddhas 65 (a) 3 Good, bad, a-good-a-bad
(b) 4 Homogenous ( good, bad )
Heterogenous ( good, bad )
(c) 14 As in Dharmaskandha 4. Science
Ethereal, Resinous, Ambrosial, Garlic, Burning, Goat, Repulsing,
Nauseating, Balsamic. Attributes of Colour
The colour is an inherent attribute percievable by the sense of sight - the eye. It may be natural, pigmentary or spectral. All have eye perceptibility. The number of colours agreed by Jainas is five. Their order, however, varies from Pujyapāda66 (black, blue, yellow, white and red) to Akalanka67 (blue, yellow, white, black and red ) the former being more scientific. Table 14 indicates that all realistic philosophies agree to four colours - blue, yellow, red and white, while they differ in other colours. The Vaiseșikas agree to green, brown and a variegated one (citra ) in addition while the Jainas have a black one. The Buddhas have primarily four colours, the Vaiseșikas have seven in contrast to the Jaina's five. The Buddhas have an additional variety of nine colours as shown in Table 14. This represents the colours of the various objects like clouds ( whitish ), smoke (blackish white ), sand ( yellowish white ) and sky (bluish ). However, this does not add to the basic four. The assumption of black colour by the Jainas may be due to the fact that owls and cats can see things even in the dark. The dark photography has confirmed this. It could be surmised that the philosophers felt the other colours as mixed rather than primary.