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 193

Reality and Matter: Definition, Properties and Classification : 171
The scientists presume that different bodies do absorb light and emit it in part depending upon their structure. The colour of the body is not due to its absorbed light but it is dependent on the nature of light emitted by it. Each colour has a range of wavelength of its light. It could be represented by spectrum. All visible colours fall in the wavelength range of 4000-7000Å which is known as visible range. The wave- length lesser than the violet is known as ultra-violet and the range larger than red colour is known as infra-red. Both these ranges are human invisible ones. These may be called dark or black in general. Thus, the black colour of Jainas may denote the ultra-violet and infra-red regions of invisible light. Jaina70 has called this range as empirical colour.
For convenience, the scientists have classified colours in seven broad classes known as VIBGYOR ( Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Red). It is seen that when a substance is heated, it emits black infra-red light in first instant followed by red, yellow and finally white light on further heating. At higher temperature, blue hot light may be emitted. That is why many stars are bluish white. Thus, one may have different colour in cold and hot conditions.
The white light of the sun was studied by Newton who proved it to be consisting of the above seven colours. Out of these, the Jainas do not agree to violet, green, orange and indigo, though these colours are specific and have their spectrum range. But it seems that Jainas assume them to be mixed colours as observed in painter and printer's colours. However, splitting of white light and rainbow suggest the existence of seven spectral colours. How the Jaina scholars with keen observation powers missed these colours, is a matter of surprise. Still, while inclusion of black colour is a distinction for the Jainas, the exclusion of other spectral colours shows some overlooking in their observations. Their concept of white colour as a basic one also requires re-examination. Jain11 has called it also not a normal but a formal colour.