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In contrast, the International Congress on Weights and Measures, 1971 has accepted seven areas under this category as shown in Table 1 with their units of measureR.
Table 1: Canonical and Current Units of Measures.
Measure
Canonical Units
Sc. Units
1. Mass
Weights and Measures-1: Mass and Volume Units:
Dravyamāna Practical atom, Kārṣa, pala, tulā 2. Distance Kṣetramāna Space point,
Angula Samaya, Avali, Prāṇa
3. Time
4. Electric
current
Canonical
Name
Kālamāna
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mg., gram, Kg.
etc.
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mm., Centi
meter, metre Second
5. Heat
6. Light
7. Matter
Mole
8. Abstract quality (Not approved by I. C. W. M.): No Units in Canons too.
ampere, volt
Calorie, Kelvin
Candela, Lux
It could be surmised that the four to seven categories of measures could not develop during canonical times. Of course, one finds mention of heat (tāpa ), light (prakāśa) and electricity (vidyut ) in canons in their various aspects.
Concept of Measures in Jaina Canons and Pro-canons
The Jaina descriptions on measures date back from many centuries of pre-Christian and post-Christian era. On closely going through them, one finds two traditions developing, per chance, side by side with a large amount of diversity in quantitative values in the units and their current equivalents. This is the case with all types of measures. These difference may refer to Mathuri or Valabhi Councils or South-north regions. Of course, the basic fundamental unit of space point or atom is an exception where there seems to be no difference. Quite
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