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

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212 : Scientific Contents in Prākrta Canons
of general properties show that quite a good number of liquids are found in canons. The Vaiseșikas have sea, river, dew and ice-water with many other varieties included in the word 'etc.' not mentioned specifically67. This seems to be much less than what is described in Jaina literature. The Buddhists have also a similar case as with the earths.
Current science has gone sufficiently ahead of canonical age not only in the number of liquids, but their classification ways and qualitative and quantitative properties. A good amount of knowledge about them has been added. The Air or Gaseous Aggregates
As earlier, the air should represent the gaseous class of substances. They move in all directions. Formerly, only colourless gases might be known which were not visible to the eye but other senses could sense them by their blowing, flowing or smell and touch. It seems, however, that no other gas except air was known in canonical periods. That is why, only various types of airs are described in this category. The earths and water fare better in this regard though to a very small extent.
Air has been classified differently in different periods as shown in Table 7. Daśavaikālika classifies it in seven types – a common sense view. But there is a peculiarity. Air from mouth is also included in it. It is now taken as chemically different from normal air in the sky. Other airs may be called nonviolent airs or breezes. Prajñāpanā has a better classification of air consisting of 19 varieties depending on direction, velocity, action or physical state. Sāntisūri has eight varieties which include air from mouth and some other Prajñāpanā varieties. It has excluded all directional winds. Battakera and Amrtacandra have seven varieties excluding mouth air. All these categories do not include air from nose without which our life would be in danger. Per chance, this could be taken as included in mouth air though it is compositionally different. Of course, if