Jain Journal 1986 01

SR No.: 520081
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 1986
Total Pages: 55
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 4 MB

Page 28

JANUARY, 1986
101
(v) The angula unit is 1-dimensional as per JDP which is also known as sūcyangula.17
(vi) One utsedha yojana has 7,68,000 angulas. Taking this as the last unit, and assuming it as equal to 4 kosas or 8 miles (1 mile=1.66 kms.=1,66,000 cms.), 1 utsedha angula comes out to be equal to 13,28,000/7,68,000-1.73 cms. Datta and Singh18 have shown that 1 anguliparva of Buddhist measure is equivalent to 1.32" or 3.68 cms. The utsedha angula of the Jainas has half this value, i.e. it is equal to 1.68 cms. It is on this basis that 1 Utsedha yojana has been calculated to be equal to 8 miles or 13.28 kms. Thus, by interpolation of yojana or extrapolation of angula, the utsedha angula has a value of 1.68-1.73 or 1.70 cms. on the average.
In contrast, G. R. Jain 19 has assumed a hasta=24 utsedha angulas= 45.90 cms. and hence 1 utsedha angula=0.75′′-1.90 cms. This means a utsedha yojana=15.09 kms. or 100/11 miles instead of 13.28 kms. as above. He has used this value to calculate the velocity of light based on its Vedic value of 4404 yojanas per nimeşa (0.25 sec.) which is sufficiently close to the current value.20 It must, however, be said that there is no confirmed base for this value of angula, though L. C. Jain21 also agrees with this value. The acceptance of different values for the same basic unit creates doubt on the reliability of calculations based on them.
Muni Sri Candan has also discussed the equivalence of utsedha angula on the basis of the height of Lord Mahavira as 7 hastas. He maintains that the cannonical height is based on utsedha angula which is equal to 3.5 hastas in self measure. This is equal to 84 ātma angulas as 1 hasta=24 ātma angulas and 1 utsedha angula =0.5 ātma angula. Hence 7 utsedha angulas × 24/2=84 ātma angulas. If one assumes the utsedha angula as 1.70-1.90 cms., the Lord's height comes. to be a minimum of 7x24x1.70=285.6 cms. or 9.25 feet. This value seems to be inconsistent on all accounts for a man born in tropical Bihar area. Thus, he has questioned both the above utsedha angula values. He does also not agree with the paramāņu or atom as the basic unit of length due to the difficulties in its standardisation. Instead, he has supported the Jaina concept of angula standard on the basis of being natural. He
17 See f.n. 6, p. 237.
18 See f.n. 14, p. 236 f.n. 1.
19 Jain, G.R., Cosmology: Old and New, Bharatiya Jnanapith, Delhi, 1975, p. 83. 20 Jain, G.R., KCS Felicitation Volume, Rewa, 1980, p. 377.
21 Jain, L.C. Tiloyapannatti-ka Ganit' in JDP, JSS Sangha, Sholapur, 1958, p. 20.