________________
206 : Scientific Contents in Prāksta Canons
The hard types are shown in Table 5 as found in canonical literature. Though there seems to be large amount of similarity in these types, still some additions and deletions forecast many informations. The Ācārānga Niryukti contains all solid earths, the 14 gems being additional to the list totalling 35. In the second classification of about 250 years later, not only gems included in the list but their number also increase from 14 to 18. Moreover, mercury is also added to the metals. This is an exception to the class of solids. This suggests that mercury was discovered or put to use between 500-300 B. C. Though śāntisūri follows Prajñāpanā, but he has curtailed the number to 21 by condensing the gems to three types and seven metals to one type. Some new substances like chalk and soda have also been added with the exclusion of diamond and pebbles, etc. Amrtacandrasūri follows Mūlācāra with 21 substances and 15 gems making the total to 36 earths. The last two classifications add pewter to metals which is actually an alloy. Sūri has made Masargalla variety into two types. Table 5 : Various types of Earth. UTN A
MR/TS PRJN Sānti Sūri - 40 35 36 40 20
2 3 . 4
5
Soils Stones
Soils Stones Slabs Pebbles
Soils Stones Slabs Pebbles
Soils Stones Slabs Pebbles Kirelaka
1. Soils 2. Stones 3. Slabs 4. Pebbles 5. - Metals 6. Iron 7. Copper 8. Lead 9. Silver 10. Gold 11. -
Iron
Gold etc.
Iron Copper Lead Silver Gold
Iron Copper Lead Silver Gold
Copper Lead Silver Gold Mercury
Mercury
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
