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 330

308 : Scientific Contents in Prākṛta Canons
cepts regarding heat, one can easily guess about the advance in knowledge about heat in current period. It suggests that large amount of qualitative and quantitative aspects have been added and theories about nature, origin and functions of heat have also been modified.
[B] Light
Many light effects were observed during canonical periods. It makes objects visible and we can see and know about them. We see the seven-coloured rainbow. The shadow and images of the objects, mirage, colours, darkness, reflection and refraction phenomena, micro- and macro-scoping and the like are other effects of light. Some of them are described in Prākṛta canons along with concepts about the nature of light summarised below.
Nature of Light
Prākṛta canons contain stray accounts of the nature and phemomena concerned with light. The current word light is denoted by many terms in canons (i) Agni, (ii) Taijasa
(
) Ātapa, (iv) Tapa, (v) Udyota (cold light) (vi) Äloka (sunlight), (vii) Prabhā (lustre), (viii) Prakāśa (light) and (ix) Jyotsna (moon-light). The first four and the sixth terms are associated with light accompanied with major portions of heat while the rest denote light with minor content of heat. They may represent cold light. Though Uttaradhyayana 37 uses the term prabhā a nearly synonym for light (prakāśa ) as a modification of mattergy, there is no similar term in Tattvärthasūtra like that used for sound. Of course, the canons mention the effects of light like darkness and shadow besides the terms like cold light (udyota) and hot light (Atapa ). It is said that all lit materials have different power or energy of light. Dhavala and Samaya-sāra assume it as power or energy to know about things 38. Akalanka points out functions of light (i) illumination, (ii) colour and shape of the objects and (iii) seeing and knowing about the objects through eyes and mind. This energy