Jain Journal 1985 10

SR No.: 520080
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 1985
Total Pages: 45
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 3 MB

Page 31

62
Here I shall confine myself only to the topic "Eclipses of the Sun and Moon according to Jaina Astronomy" to throw some light upon this problem in the light of other astronomical views. The Jainacaryas have treated this subject by taking into consideration the popular and scholarly ancient astronomical views on the causes of eclipses of the Sun and Moon, frequency of eclipses, recurrence of eclipses-the saros, the eclipses of the Moon, the eclipses of the Sun and total lunar and solar eclipses and their effects on the Earth, etc.
Jaina Astronomy refers to two popular views of paratirthikas in regard to the eclipses of the Moon and Sun. The first one advocates the theory that the Rahu captures the Moon or the Sun, so there occurs the lunar eclipse or the solar eclipse. The second one maintains that there is no Rahu which captures or eclipses the Moon or the Sun."
Between them the one which states that it is the Rahu which captures the Moon or the Sun explains the causes of the eclipse in this way that the Rahu, having seized the Moon or the Sun by the lower part (or limb) releases it by the lower part or having seized it by the lower part, releases it by the upper part, or having seized it by the upper part, releases it by the lower part, or sometimes having siezed it by end the of the left arm, releases it by the end of the left arm, or sometimes having seized it by the end of the left arm, releases it by the end of the right arm, or having seized it by the right arm, releases it by the end of the right arm.5 That is to say, the Rahu, having captured the Moon or the Sun by the left side, releases it by the left side and so on.
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JAIN JOURNAL
Between the two groups of thinkers the other one which advocates that there is no Rahu which captures the Moon or the Sun explains the eclipse in this way that there are in all fifteen kinds of black matter, viz. Simghanaka, Jatilaka, Kharaka, Khataka, Anjana, Khanjana, Sitala,
a tattha khalu imao do padivattio pannattao, tatthege evamahamsu, atthi nam se rahu deve je nam camdam va suram va ginhati, ege evamahamsu, ege puna evamahamsu natthi nam se rahu deve jenam camdam va suram va ginhai 1,
Suriyapannatti, pahuda 20.
Camdapannatti, pahuda 20.
• rahu nam camdam va suram va genhamane buddhamtenam ginhitta buddhamtenam muyati...muddhamtenam ginhitta muddhamtenam muyati 1,
Ibid.
⚫ vamabhuyamtenam ginhitta ginhitta daninabhuyamtenam muyati 1,
Ibid.
vamabhuyamtenam
muyati...dahinabhuyamtenam