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 226

204 : Scientific Contents in Prāksta Canons !
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or motion including rotation, vibration, translation. The translatory motion requires highest energy for chemical bonding. There are some technical terms used in this connection like parispanda, parivarta, pariņāma, etc. which have been explained by Sikdara?, Description of Specific Skandhas
The infinite variety of aggregations can be seen to exist in four specific forms – earth, water, air and fire. The order in Kundakunda and many philosophies is different putting fire before air due to eye-perceptibility criteria. Kundakunda mentions them as dhātus (basic ones ). The four mahābhūtas of the Buddhists and four types of basic atoms of Vaisesikas remind us of some conceptual similarities. This four-form aggregation concept suggests that karma theory (where karmas are also mattergical aggregates ) was probably developed later as has also been suggested by Dixit 48. As the karma concept is concerned with spiritualistic discussions, we will skip it here.
It may be suggested that these four aggregatal forms represent the various states of mattergy rather than the specific aggregates. Thus, the earth represents solids, water the liquids, air the gases and fire the various forms of energies. On the one hand, this statement is supported by the fact that the seers have enumerated a variety of earth ranging between 21-40 and involving metals, minerals, non-metals, alloys, ores, gems, compound and mixtures. On the other hand, this surmise becomes little doubtful when one finds that they have classified water, air and fire only in their naturally occurring or commonly observed forms. Though Kundakunda49 exemplifies ghee, oil etc. among the gross (liquid ) class, still they are not mentioned in water varieties. How they could overlook the enormous variety of liquids and gases is a matter of surprise and clarification. It could also be surmised that other varieties of different classes might not be known at canonical times.
Another fact stated in canons is that all these skandhas or the visible world is basically termed as living during their