Page Text
________________
THE BRIGHT ONES IN JAINISM
247
4. Assimilative (Aharaka) body. This is of the size of a cubit long man-like emanation from the fore head of a saint, and is produced for the special purpose of the Saint going to a greater Saint at a long distance to remove his doubt or difficulty.
5. Physical (Audarika) body. The visible, physical body of men, animals and plants itc.
Thus it all depends on what is meant by "astral" body by Theosophists. If it is th: body of so-called ghests etc., then it is called the Vaikriyaka body of the celestial beings, possibly only Residentials and Peripatetics in Jainism.
It can hardly be meant to be Taijasa, as the Taijasa body is possessed by all embodied souls in the Universe at all times.
Q. 3. Vaikriyaka you have made a third class of body along with the Audarika body. Should it not be made a separate class? Is it not very much what Christ had after resurrection?
Ans. The answer to question 2 above makes clear that the answer to this question depends entirely upon what body or embodiment Lord Christ is said to have had after resurrection.
All the 5 bodies are material. Matter is visible. Therefore the visibility of all bodits in certain necessary and favourable circumstances is nothing surprising, miraculous or unnatural.
All visions of ghosts etc. are easily and naturally explicable in the light of this point.
Q. 4. On page 6 you have given a stellar account. Can it be harmonised with the modern theory of Astronomy concerning The solar sysiem?
Ans. In Jainism, one yojana is a measure of 4000 miles. The Sun, according to Jainism, is 800 yojanas iie, about 3200000 miles above the Earth, and about 50000 yojanas or 200000000 miles distant from Bharat Kshetra, our India etc. According to modern Astronomy the distance of the Sun from the Earth has been calculated at different figures by different Astronomers. In the 17th Century Cassini estimated it at 87000000 miles. In 1868, the books gave it as 91000000 miles. Now it seems to be 93000000 miles. (See Modern Astronomy by Hector Macpherson 1926, page 27) Dr. J. H. Jeans, the distinguished English mathematician, remarked some years ago 'the cosmogonist can Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
| SR No. | 034889 |
| Book Title | Jaina Gazette 1927 |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | J L Jaini, Ajitprasad |
| Publisher | Jaina Gazettee Office |
| Publication Year | 1927 |
| Total Pages | 568 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 47 MB |