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Scientific Contents of Jaina Canons
१९९
These constituents seem to be differing in number, but substantially, they are just modifications of the two basic realities. Kundakunda has described all the classifications prevalent in his period-different schools preferring their own views depending their object of composition. With spiritual aspect, 7 or 9 were accepted while with physical aspect, 2,5 or six constituents were given. The difference is only in classifying non-living with time or without it. The current following goes with 6 or 7 constituents. Looking to the spiritual object of the book, the details about them are not found here. But during normal treatments, some prevalent practices and concepts regarding chemical and biological sciences are observed therein. An attempt has been made here to put them collectively so that the future scholars may use them for further critical and comparative studies.
Chemical Sciences
Normally chemistry deals with sense perceptible substances and phenomena associated with them. Following chemical facts find mention in this book : (i) Parmāņu or atom has been mentioned in many ways showing the
prevalence of atomic theory in those days. This has been described
by the author in his other treatises. (NS, PS) (ii) Metals like gold, silver, lead and some others find mention. Not only
this, method of obtaining and purification of gold has also been described. Gold is obtained by fusing it with borax and purified by blowing it with a mixture of borax and salt. Similarly, gold can also be obtained when a lead ore is heated with the root of Nägafani tree and urine of an animal, per chance lead volatalises leavig gold. It is tested by rubbing, beating, heating and drilling. These methods are explicable from today's chemical principles. Metals other than gold are termed as Hiranya. It seems that the household in south had a very much charm for gold which is
still in vogue. (SP, MF) (iii) Two types of poisons have been mentioned : plant poisons and
animal poisons. Both of them are harmful leading even to
death. (SP) (iv) It is mentioned that air is necessary for burning of wood or fuel,
though the winds have different effects on the process. The lamp
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