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 299

Weights and Measures - 2: Length and Time Units : 277
or practical atom unit should be recognised as standard unit with a value of 10-4 cm. and the canonical descriptions be made consistent on this basis.
The units smaller than this may be simile based. The unit of infinite times infiniteth part (1/2000) seems to be imaginary as it does not seem to have a measurable value. This inference does not seem to be consistent with definitions of Trasarenu and Ratharenu of A. D. S.'4, but it seems better for accuracy. The A. D. S. definitions of these terms seem to be akin to Vaiseșikas who have Trasarenu as their standard length unit equal in size to the colloidal dirt particles seen floating in light path. This unit is almost about 10 times larger than the Jaina smallest unit's. The discrepancy between the values of A. D. S. unit and other reference units has to be explained. The common names of some of the units in Jaina and Vaiśesika systems further suggest about looking into original source of these units.
Besides concurring with the size of the atom, the 1.70 cm. value of UA has another result to its credit. If one takes Y = 8 miles, the velocity of light based on Vedic data comes to be 1,40,930 miles/second ( 2.34 x 1010 cms./second ). The value of 1.90 cm. for UA gives this value as 1,87,300 miles ( 3.10 x 100 cm./second ). These values are reasonably approaching current values. This is quite encouraging. But when we move for distances in solar systems, we find that we have the distances fourteen times larger for moon and thirty times lesser for Sun. This descrepancy is awaiting explanation. The other values of UA will increase the discrepancy still further.
It has already been pointed out that normal Angula is 1-d and it is also named as Sūcyāngula. There seems to be some difference in R, V.16 and J. D. P. discription of this unit. However, J. D. P. seems to be more reasonable. This Angula has three varieties as shown in table 1. It is seen that there is a difference between the values of PA in Digambara and Svetāmbara versions. No comment has been made on this