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 375

Contents of Physics -2 : Sound, Electricity and Magnetism
: 353
loped much earlier. However, the Jainas excel in details about sound over the Vaiseșikas. It seems that despite surfacial similarities about the canons and scientific postulates, the difference that exists qualitatively and quantitatively is much more to cast a keener eye on them. The canonical contents represent the stage of knowledge of their times and this comparative survey leads us to learn about the growth and gap existing between now and then. To assert the authenticity of canons, it is necessary to dive deeper with analytical mind to reduce the gap. [B] Electricity and Magnetism 1. Electricity or Vidyuta
There is comparatively little description about electricity and magnetism in canons in comparison to heat, light and sound. The canons have used the term 'Vidyuta' as proper noun and common noun“. As a proper noun, there are Vidyuts as queens, Vidyuts as celestials, Vidyuts as islands, Vidyutamukha as men and the like. However, it is the common noun which is pertinent to us. The term is actually indicative of electric lightning in the sky.
The first book Acārānga does neither have this term, nor the fire-bodied ones have been classified there. Dasavaikālika also does not have this term despite classification, The Cūrni-authors have included it in the term Ulkā which is generally meteoritic fire known as sky-fire also42. It seems that on further observations, Ulkā (sky fire ) varieties were specified. Sthānānga 43 mentions its four types :
(i) Vidyuta or electric lightning (ii) Meteoritic falls ( Ulkā ) (iii) Dik-daha ( spatial conflagrations ) (iv) Yakşadipta ( demonic lightnings ).
It is stated that the monks should not study when any of these forms and other six causes are there. Prajñāpanā has only the first three of the above forms. Per chance, this and