Life in Ancient India as Depicted in Jain Canons

SR No.: 011077
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jagdishchandra Jain
Publisher: New Book Company
Publication Year: 1947
Total Pages: 429
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 16 MB

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LIFE IN ANCIENT INDIA
The knowledge of astronomy was considered necessary to find the time and place for the religious ceremonies.80 Sankhāna (arithmetic) and jousa (astronomy) are mentioned in the Bhagavatī81 and the Uttarădhyayanaga and are included among the fourteen branches of learning stated above..
The early Jain and Buddhist texts provide ample testimony to the progress made by jyotisa. The science was otherwise known as nakkhattavijā.919 The experts in jossa were required to make forecasts of all coming events. It is said that Mahāvīra was versed in arithmetic and astronomy.83 Arithmetic (ganiya) is counted among the seventy two arts already referred to, which is said to have been taught by Usabha to Sundari.84 Ganita is also described as one of the four expositions of the principle (anuyoga) in the Jain texts.36 The Thānănga mentions ten kinds of science of numbers, viz parıkamma (fundamental operation), vavahāra (subject of treatment), rajju ("rope" meaning geometry),rāsı ("heap"meaning measurement of solid bodies), kalasavanna (fractions), jāvam tavam as may as" meaning simple equations), vagga ("'square" meaning quadratic equation), ghana ("cube" meaning cubic equation), vaggavagga (liquidratic equation) and vikappa (permutation and combination).30
(3) MEDICINES, DISEASES AND TREATMENT
Ayurveda is defined as the science and art of life. It deals with life in all its phases-philosophical and biological and comprises both preventive and curative medicine and surgery It is the great healing art of ancient India which aims at giving us "a happy and benevolent life" by showing the ways and means to it.37
The science of Medicine (tegicchaya or äyuvveya), which is counted among the nine false sciences (pāvasuya) in the Jain texts, 38 is said to have been discovered by Dhannantari.39 Dhannantari was well-versed in the medical science which comprises eight branches : Pediatrics (kumarabhicca), surgery and midwifery (salāga), the treatment of eye, ear, nose and throat (sallahallha), the treatment of bodily diseases (kāyatigucha),
60 Jambu Ti p 2, cf Digha I p 10f where the study of astronomy and other arts is condemned by Buddha to the monks 312 1. 52 25 7, 36. 32a Das sū 8 5. B3 Kalpa, 1. 10 84 Ăua cũ ,p 166. 86 Das cū p 2 38 10. 747, Bibhutibhusan Datta, The Jaina School of Mathematics, The Bulletin of the Calcutta Mathematical Society, Vol XXI, p 115ff, 1929, also Sukumar Ranjan Das, A short Chronology of Indian Astronomy, I HL 1931, HR Kapadia, Introduction to Ganitatilaka ( G OS NO LXXVIII), D M Roy Annuls of the Bhandarkar Institute, 1926-7, pp 145 fi 87 The Spirit and Culture of Ayurveda, P 411f, The Cultural Heritage of India, Vol III 88 Thā 9.678. 90 Nisi cũ 15, p. 944, cf. Milindapantha, p. 272, also Ayoghara Jātaha (No. 510). IV, PP 496, 498.