Cosmology Old and New

Author(s): G R Jain
Publisher: Bharatiya Gyanpith

Page 54

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COSMOLOGY : OLD AND NEW
motion of the earth *° says:
“The magnitude and direction of the observed effect vary in the manner required by the assumption that the earth is moving through a fixed aether."61
There should be no surprise in the manner in which the scientists have arrived at this conclusion. As we have remarked several times in the Prologue, we cite once more the words of A.D. Rikhie: "Scientific men are bound to be revolutionary; to scrap ruthlessly whatever theory is found to contradict facts. and adopt a new one."
So we see that on the basis of the latest scientific evidences two points are well-established. Dharma dravya, the Aether is non-material, filling all space and not moving. Compare with this the Jaina version :
अमूर्तो निष्कियो नित्यो मत्स्यानां जलवद् भुवि । (Dharma dravya is formless, inactive and eternal. It behaves like water towards the fish in the world.)
Some people think that with the advent of the theory of Relativity, the aether has been thrown out of science. They should carefully note what the great exponent of Relativity, Prof. Eddington, has to say on this point: "This does not mean that the aether is abolished. We need an aether.” (See foot-note No. 57). Thus it is proved that Science and Jaina physics agree absolutely in so far as they call dharma (Aether) non-material, non-atomic, non-discrete, continuous, co-extensive with space, indivisible and as a necessary medium for motion and one which does not itself move.
ADHARMA Let us now take up the next entity in the sutra, viz., adharma.
अधम्म ठिदि जीवपुग्गलाणं च।।
(art: front: sagarria ) 62 (Adharma is the auxiliary cause of rest to soul and matter.)
60. This research paper was read before The British Association, Leicester, September 1933, and published in The Nature, February 3, 1934.
61. This is further supported by the papers published in the Physical Review (American), February 15, 1935. (See Discussion on Acther-drag by Cartmel.)
62 Niyamasara, 230.