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JAIN PHILOSOPHY & MODERN SCIENCE
showed that the earth is in motion This was also the age of support and opposition in India. Those believing in the immobility of the earth, not only estabhshed their view but also strongly criticised the opposite view viz, that "The earth is in motion" Shri Vrahamıhira (born 505 A.D.) says,13 "Some people say that the earth is in motion, while the constellations are at rest If that is so, then how the birds which leave their nests and fly in the skies are able to return to their own nests after a while?"
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Shri Lallachaya writes,14 "If the earth is rotating, how the birds can return to their nests? Why the arrows in the sky do not vanish or do not have non-uniform motion in the East and West? If this is so due to the slow motion of the earth, then how I can complete a revolution within a day and night"" Shripati says, "If the earth was rotating very fast, there would be such a strong wind that things like the buildings, and the peaks of the mountains etc, could not have remained stable and all the flags would have permanently pointed towards the westerly direction." Those believing in the immobility of the earth, also explained the problems raised by their opponents from various points of view, in the same way as they criticized them One of the arguments, that came before them was as to how earth could be at rest in space without having any support. They
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14 Shishyadhee Vridhida Tantra Goladhyaya
