Astronomy and Cosmology

Author(s): L C Jain
Publisher: Rajasthan Prakrit Bharti Sansthan Jaipur

Page 26

v) Agurulaghutva (non-gravity-levity ) : signifying the power by
virtue of it, the fluent does not lose its own controls and remains always what it is.
vi) Pradeśatva (pointedness ): signifying that every fluent has
some or other form (shape, size, etc.)
Further, space (ākāśa) forms a continuum absolutely, but relatively it consists of or is composed of infinite space-points (pradeśas) whose cardinality is greater than that of the instants (samayas) in the past, the present and the future. Similarly the cardinality of the infinity of the time-instants is greater than the cardinality of the set of all ultimate particles (paramāņus).21 Matter, souls, aether, anti-aether and space are each called astikāya because each of them is many-pointed. Soul may contractor expand, forming a continuum. Aether and anti-aether also form a continuum. Time-particles do not form astikāya in so far as each is single pointed and discrete, 22
In the works on karaṇānuyoga, description of various subuniverses is available. For example in the Tiloyapaņņatti, chapters have been devoted to the general universe, hellish universe, human universe, sub-human universe, astral universe, and gods universe. 23 Loka is also of four types : fluent (dravya), quarter (kşetra), time (kāla) and phase (bhāva) universes.
Thus under various controls of their own, the fluents modify themselves through various types of events. The specific relation between the bios and matter being karmic one. The astral universe relates the astronomy in terms of celestial parts (gagana khandas), project-measure (yojana), and forty-eight-minute set (muhūrta),24 The dynamical laws are derivable only from the Karmic (action) relations, as it appears, which may be subject to deeper probe, later. Yojana may be compared with Chinese 'li'
21. Cf. D., book 3, p. 30, 31. 22. All the six types of fluents (in various number) enter each other,
continually mixing with each other, accommodating each other
mutually, yet do not lose their own nature (special property). 23. Cf. T.P., I & II. The three major divisions are the upper, interme
diate and lower universes. Cf. also G. A., p 9. 24. Cf. ibid. Cf. also S. P., C. P., T. S., and L. V.