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COSMOLOGY: OLD AND NEW
Then (**)? is called the Minimum Ultimate countless. The maximum Ultimate Countless is Preliminary Infinity minus one. The idea of infinity is given in connection with sutra 9.
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SUTRA 9. 31105TgTerat: 11811 ĀKĀSASYĀNANTĀH [9]
(34TCATETEAM: GETT: Afer 1) Also in Svetām bara work we have :
आगासत्थिकाए पएसट्ठयाए अणंतगुणे। 190 (Tr.-The number of prades as in Space is infinite.) The conception of Infinity, according to Jainism, is as follows:
Raise the quantity (**) to its own power; then raise the result so obtained to its own power and repeat this process (**)2 times. Let the final number be denoted by xi.
Again raise xl, to the power xı, and the result obtained to its own power and continue the process (xi) times. Let the number now obtained be denoted by X2.
Repeat the whole operation a second time, i.e., (x,x), then (Result) Result to be continued (x,*2) times. Let the result be now denoted by X3.
Result Again (*3*); then (Result) to be continued (x3*) times, Suppose it gives the number X4.
The process of arriving at xa from x1, is given the technical name (salakātrayanisihapana). Since we shall have to resort to this process several times in reaching the Infinity, we shall for the sake of simplicity call it the S.T.N. process. To X4 add the following numbers :
(1) Countless pradeśas of dharma dravya. (2) Countless pradeśas of adharma dravya.
190, Prajnapana, pada 3, sutra 271.
