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 329

Contents of Physics - 1: Heat and Light : 307
the living only. When there is less than the critical for the livingness, the matter is non-living. The so-called electromagnetic field theory about the living also points out about the material nature of the living with a critical amount of electric power associated with it which is a measurable quantity. The roundabout treatment of livingness does lead us to confuse matters. It is, thus, clear that canonical concepts about heat are only qualitative and represent a gross observational order of early days. At times, some explanations have been given for some facts, but these are not completely satisfying to a man of today. Nevertheless, it is important that Jaina scholars could take up these matters of worldly life and many of their statements still stand. Of course, many more additions have been made.
(vii) Looking at various classes of the fire-bodied substances, one finds a large amount of difference in their nature. They represent the sources of heat rather than varieties of heat itself. Of course, the observation of fuelless or smokeless heat is surprising during those days. These are the newer developments of this ege. However, the difference of heat sources has not been clarified on structural basis. Their uniformity has been shown due to their common atomic nature. All the canonical classes are visual and obtained from natural sources. Now, it is known that wood-fires are due to burning of carbon in air. This fire is chemical in nature. If there is no air, it cannot be produced. Frictional and other fires are nonchemical in nature produced by physical processes mainly. Air is not necessary for these fires. The enormous heat due to fission and fusion also comes under this class which finds no mention in canons. Air, sometimes, causes obstructions in production of non-chemical fires. Invisible radiation heats also do not find mention in canons. The examples like gem-fire or meteoritic fires are now said to be light or electric effects rather than heat effects, though invisible heat is involved in them.
From the above statements about the physicists' con