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 401

Definition of Living
: 379
Sānkhyas 43, Vaišeşikas 44, Vedāntins 45 and Ayurveda scholars46 have also the word 'Prāņas' with reference to the living. They have comparatively quite a restricted meaning of the term. Activities like vibration, expansion, contraction is the vedic view47. The inhaling and exhaling are their main idea during which one takes in air and gives it out in and through different parts of the body. This process of respiration supplies the necessary energy for physiological processes occuring in the body at every moment. This energy is known as Fire of Fire-god. Hence 'Prāna' is the fire. Vedāntins will equate them with senses as well as airs48. Sankhyas clearly state that 'Prānas' etc. are five airs. Vaiseșikas also mean respiratory activity by this term but they agree to five airs. In contrast, the Jainas have a more complex concept about these vitalities.
Acārānga means the living unit by itself49 and Bhagavati 50 means respiration by this term. The commentator Silānka and Agastya Singh51 mean mobile beings with observable respirations. Does all this indicate that livingness in 1-sensed plants is a post-canonical phenomena ? Umāsvāti also has referred 'Prānas' at many places as material. He was supported by Pūjyapāda52 and Akalanka53. This term also means respiration for him.
All this suggests that the term 'Prāņa' was used in the same sense by Jainas as in other philosophies. Later, more activities of the living were observed to cover physical, vocal and mental ones. They incorporated the senses, their sensitivity, and physico-chemical actions together with the duration of these activities. Thus, its meaning was also extended to comprehend all the terms in general which gave a better meaning for the term for the Jainas. Even, Kundakunda54 has this meaning in mind and now it can be seen that respiratory process becomes only a part and not the whole of the term 'Prāna'. When and how this widened meaning was coined by the Jainas, is a subject matter for scholar's pursuit.
During the days of spiritualistic trend in philosophy and