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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254 : Scientific Contents in Prāksta Canons
and adding this to R. V. measures which did not include it in their abstract measure.
The para-worldly nature of these measures seems to be the creation of Akalanka of eighth century who has many such credits. It is also observed that para-worldly mass measure of Akalanka has been differently classified from the A. D. S. mass measure. The authors of B, T. P., J. D. P. do not propound any para-worldly measures. Of course, Bhagavati has countable and simile time's.
The A. D. S. has three main classes of Abstract measure-conation, quality ( of living and non-living ) and standpoint with many sub-classes thereupon. Bhagavati does not have these types. Akalanka has given only five types of knowledges ( with no conation or its varieties ) in his explanatory commentary. Table 2 and 3 summarise the A. D. S. and R. V. measures. It seems that A. D. S. classification is more logical and avoids repeatition and confusion than R. V. Table 4 summarises the useful information about the different measures.
This also makes it clear that no dividing line could be drawn between worldly and para-worldly measures as the latter includes six varieties of worldly type. Of course, it seems that the latter type has more extensive area or measure to cover length, time and qualities. If we define this measure as that which has measuring limits beyond the grossness and fineness of worldly measures which may be invisible or unholdable, still the numerable measures of matter, the varieties of Angula (A) etc. of length and Muhūrta, day etc. units of time can never be called para-worldly. In addition, Akalanka has divided mass measure in two varieties - number and simile measures which could be included in countable measures as in A. D. S. The simile measure has eight varieties, out of which palya and sagara are definitely time units and the rest six are length units. The simile measure, therefore, Could not be taken as a subclass of matter measure of para-worldly type. Of course, it would be a different case if one assumes them to be matter units as