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 320

298 : Scientific Contents in Prākṛta Canons
does this heat in water come from? The source giving this hotness or life in matter is an energy which might be called soul or Atman. may be called spiritual or supernatural force. In olden days, such and other unintelligible phenomena were said to be due to this force. This makes it clear that the basic sources of life is an energy which exists in every living one in the form of heat. Is it that the so called Atman a form of energy of heat? According to Jainas, hot bodies are living ones. On this basis, sun, fire, burning lamp, sewage, frictional fire and the like are all living substances inherently. They come under the category of fire-bodied one-sensed living substances*. These substances are also called light-bodied (Taijaskāyika ) as their bodies have normally (specially fire) a glistening light. They contain hotness with shining. In Jaina canons, light is not only associated with body or mass alone as taijasa body but with energy also in the form of Tejoleśyā ( aura). These bodies have been said to possess breathing and ageing. Their age varies between 48 minutes to three days. A burning coal piece also lights with hotness. This is also a form of energy. The source of this light is also as supernatural as that of heatR. Canonically, heat and light, are the two forces which are contained in the living matter. In fact, there are some more natural forces which contribute to livingness. Thus, the word 'agni' or 'taijasa' should be taken to mean a form of energy containing heat and light.
Bhagavati mentions about cycle of changes in heat and taijasa forms. Later scholars have elaborated many facets of these forms as below:
(1) It may be in the form of physique-making karmic matter which causes glistening hotness to the body (taijasa, luminous or caloric body). Some, now, call it as electrical or electromagnetic body. It may be ejectable or non-ejectable, auspicious or inauspicious. It could be associated with living or non-living9.
(ii) It may have the form of Taijasa emanations or