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 231

Jaina Theory of Skandhas or Aggregations : 209
universe and they belong to one type only. They are invisible aggregates. They are infinite in number58.
The above canonical description about solids seems to be quite small and incomplete when compared with current knowledge. There are thousands of compounds and minerals known today. Many useful materials are being synthesized now-a-days. Canons deal with only natural earths. Still, it proves that the ancient scholars did observe what was existing.
The Vaiseṣikas 59 have only three types of earth-soils, rocks and minerals and immobiles (vegetable kingdom). Later, Annam Bhaṭṭa omits the last category and adds the word etc. inclusive of many solid and liquid materials found in nature. The Jainas have a separate category for vegetable kingdom to be described later. That is taken as living rather than nonliving. Table 5 indicates the Jaina advances over the Vaiseṣikas in this regard. Prasastapāda exemplifies each of three categories in general but the Jainas have gone specific. The Buddhists have not much to offer in this matter.
The Water Class
Like earth, water should represent liquid class. The factual description is different. However, water is divided in two classes fine and gross. The fine variety has similar specifics as the fine earth. No examples of fine variety are available. However, gross water could be of three types (i) general water (paniya), (ii) alcohols (pāna) and (iii) medicinal waters (pānaka1). Fluidity is the chief characteristics of this class. Many substances like butterfat, metals, etc. could get into this class when heated and liquefied. They therefore casually belong to this class.
Ordinary water has two varieties overground and underground. They have been sub-classified in different canonical periods, as shown in Table 6. The Prajñāpanā gives the best classification with seventeen varieties of water liquids including all the above three major varieties. Mulācāra and
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