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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250 : Scientific Contents in Präkrta Canons
a good number of higher values seem to be mythological rather than scientifically logical. They represent the changing concepts and ideas in different ages when standardisation was not the practice. This seems to be more surprising that despite the fact of scholars regarding the origin of decimal system in the east, no attempt seems to be there to adopt it in measuresystem. This has resulted in large number of statements not seemingly credible. This author wishes to attempt to collect and present them to suggest modestly, with proper analysis, the need for their uniformity and standardisation so that the descriptions made on their basis may become consistent, coherent and better credible. It is worthwhile to note that many modifications in definitions, concepts and details have been taking place throughout the canonical and commentators' periods to make them more accurate and generalisedo. This attempt is meant for encouraging this attitude in current times.
Jaina texts have coined the term 'Pramāna' and 'Māna' (T. S. ) for the process of measurements of length, time, weights and volumes. They are contained in Bhagavati ( B ), Sthānānga ( Sth. ), Anuyogadvāra Sūtra ( A. D. S. ), Triloka Prajñapti (T. P. ), Tandulaveyaliya (T. V.), Rājavārttika (R. V.), Dhavalā (D), Jambūdvipaprajñapti (J. D. P. ), Trilokasāra ( Ts. ) and in some other canons in stray form as shown in Table 2. However, it must be pointed out that there are more descriptions about length and time units than weights and volume units of matter. It is also observed that R. V. and Ts. follow different ways of classification of measures from the other canons''. This matter seems to be a later development. Despite the fact that there is not much difference in different initial units of weights and measures, these sources classify the measurements in worldly and para-worldly varieties like the
Jaina scriptures in A. D. S. and Nandi''. The first variety of worldly measure is mainly concerned with weights, volumes, cost, numeration and has six classes instead of five in A. D. S. where these are included in mass measures only12. Though