Aspect of Jainology Part 2 Pandita Bechardas Doshi

Author(s): M A Dhaky, Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 547

110
N. L. Jain
(vi) One UY (utsedha yojana) has 7,68,000 angulas. Taking this as the last
unit, and assuming it as equal to 4 K (Koshas) or 8 miles (I mile=1.66 kms= 1,66,000 cms), I UA comes out to be equal to 13,28,000/7,68,000 1.73 cms. Datta and Singh have shown that 1 Anguliparva of Buddhist measure is equivalent to 1.32" or 3.68 cms. The UA of Jainas has half this value, i.e. it is equal to 1.68 cms. It is on this basis that 1 UY has been calculated to be equal to 8 miles or 13.26 kms. Thus, by interpolation of Yojana or extrapolation of Angula, the UA has a value of 1.68-1.73 or 1.70 cms. on the average.
In contrast, G. R. Jain has assumed a Hasta, H=24 UA=45.90 cms and hence 1 UA-0.75"=1.90 cms. This means a UY=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 Y per Nimesha (0.25 sec.) which is sufficiently close to the current value. It must, must, however, be said that there is no confirmed base for this value of Angula, though L. C. Jain 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.
Munishri Chandanji has also discussed the equivalence of UA on the basis of height of Lord Mahavira as 7 H. He maintains that the canonical height is based on UA which is equal to 3.5 H in self measure. This is equal to 84 AA as IH=24 AA and 1 UA=0.5 AA. Hence 7 UAX 24/2 = 84 AA. If one assumes the UA as 1.70–1.90 cms., the Lord's height comes to be a minimum of 7 x 24 x 1.70= 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 UA values. He does also not agree with the parmanu 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 has given a value of 0.42" or 1.07 cm. to UA on the basis of many comparative references and logistics. Based on this, I UY=5 miles or 8.30 kms, and the height of the Lord as 5.84 feet of 178 cms. which seems to be reasonable. He has given critical descriptions about the various body heights in literature and has canonically defined the standard UA. However, his concept of natural Angula being standard could not be justified on account of its larger variability than an atom.
Lishk have given a fourth value for UY as 0.085 km. (0.51 miles) equivalent to a value of app. 0.001 cm. for the UA. They have suggested that the values of these units should be decided on the basis of historical period and place. Thus, they seem to be adding to our difficulty in the process of standardisation and he has conveyed that the value of standard basic Angula is variable, that is, it is a secondary rather than primary as desired by canons. One would like to wonder how a variable quantity may be treated as a standard. Moreover, the authors of ADS, B, TP, JDP and SK belong to the same side of the country and there should not be