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Jainism, Quantum Physics and Evolving Spiritualism
3. Jain Agams as Ancient Science Books
Jain Agams are religious books but their contents look very differently from the conventional philosophy and mythology books. Any reader having some knowledge about science will immediately notice that majority of the subjects dealt in the Agams are related to the universe, life science, physical and chemical science, psychology, genomics etc. Some learned peopledescribe Jain science as Meta Physics which according to us is a complete misnomer. Because of old and difficult script, misunderstanding of Agams' science is not surprising. But Mahavir, by any definition cannot be called a Meta physicist because Metaphysics is a science of mysticism and Jainism is science of Creation and Spiritual Evolution' which are akin to modern concepts. Jain Agams narrate vividly Mahavir's scientific contributions. Mahavir was Kewal Gyani and could have not spoken Mithayatwa. Whatever he spoke was from spiritual point of view and therefore any deviations from modern science simply illustratehis indifferent attitude towards the physical world.
Mahavir who rejected the idea of Creation and Creator God', had to develop various scientific principles to explain all types of creations and natural phenomena including life on the earth. For Kewalgyani Mahavir, the physical forms of objects were Asat and only the eternal flow of consciousness and atoms constituted the universe which is sat. Servagya Mahavirsaid that atoms and consciousness and not God created the universe observing the conservation law-Upneiva, Vigneiva, Dhruveiva'. It is said thatafter learning this conservation law and knowing the Relative and Absolute Truth, Ganadhara, the disciples of Mahavir wrote Fourteen Purvas containing Mahavir's teaching which are now extinct. But Mahavirs preaching is partly preserved in the form of Agams.
Jain Agams describe in details how two or more atoms combine to produce a molecule and how molecules unite to form infinite varieties of living and nonliving objects which constitute the universe. Rules governing formation of Visrasa Parinat Skand(Inorganic compounds) by atoms and formation of Prayog ParinatSkandh (Organic Molecules) by atoms and catalytic action of Atman are clearly mentioned in the Agams. It may also be noted that according to Jain concept only those molecules which form the body and body organs are organic compounds. All other are Visrasa Parinat Pudgal or inorganic compounds. Nails, hair, teeth etc. are placed in a special category called Misra Parint Skandhabecause they aredetachable from the body.
Desire, Greed and Ego are the basic causes of unhappiness. Jains call them as Karma which has quantum or atomic nature and abilitytoform subtle body or Karman Sharira. Consciousness should get rid of this subtle
