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 521

from surroundings. Their intake should also be called food. Thus, the definition of food is more generalised than the scientific one. It includes the emotional elements as well besides physical intakes. That is why the Jaina scholars have postulated its psychological effects too alongwith physical effects since early canonical periods. In contrast, these effects have been co-related with food by scientists in late last century.
Need for Food
Food Sciences : 499
Jaina scholars have described their observations to indicate the need for food. Uttaradhyayana tells us that the body becomes weak, the bones, joints etc. become clearly observable and sometimes sound while walking and its work capacity is reduced in absence of food. The author of Mulacara 10 suggests the need for food on two counts: (a) physical and (b) spiritual or psychological. Essentially, the spiritual object is served only through physical objects. It is said, "The body is the first means to follow religion" These are given in Table 1 alongwith scientific points for the need of food. Āśādhara11 suggests its need for maintaining the body. Sthänānga 12 tells us that food leads to beauty, happiness, nutrition, strength and catalysation for various activities. The strength represents disease-resistence and lustre of the body. Svāmikumāra13 assumes thirst and apetite as natural diseases which are satisfied by food. He feels that food leads to maintain the vital fluids in the body and to practice and study the canons. Kundakunda14 also agrees that it is the food which converts into flesh and blood etc.
11
It is, thus, clear that the canonical objects of food are the same as we feel daily. Expressed in modern language15, one can say that the body has two functions - general and specific. The general functions are respiration, digestion, excretion etc. while the specific actions are growth, livelihood, work, reading, writing, performing austerities etc.
The food scientists have postulated three additional objects of food based on cellular structure and mechanism of