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The Jaina world of Non-living
scope of scriptural shadows. For example, the texts do not have the phenomena like refraction etc. 21. The term 'Ātapa' (heat) and 'Udyota' (light) are also mattergic in nature. In fact, the text mentions them in terms of two varieties of light. It has been observed in the first instance that heat does not have light effect upto a certain point when objects are heated. After this, when heat effect is more prominent, light also gets associated with it. Thus, we have : (i). Sunlight
35% light
65% heat (ii). Electric lamp 7-10% light 90-93% heat (iii). Arc lamp
15%
85% heat (iv). Moonlight
99% light
1% heat The current concept of heat may be taken as corresponding with sunlight (Ātapa) of the Jainas.
The second variety of light is moonlight, also observed in glowworm, firefly etc. where light effect is predominant over heat effect. For example, glow worm has 99% light and 1% heat.
The Svetāmbara texts indicate a third form of light which is termed as lustre (Prabhā) which is light coming out from many jewels and gems etc. The light illuminates the objects in six directions.
The mattergic nature of light and heat could be taken in terms of two traditional concepts. These are fine and corpuscular by nature or they are in the form of energy (or electromagnetic waves). Formerly, Jainas postulated their corpuscular nature. However, many of their properties could be explained only on the basis of their wave nature. In fact, now it is assumed they have a dual nature- wavicular. This supports the adoption of Jinistic non-absolutism by the scientists. The phenomena covering wave nature of these energies are not found in Jaina texts. Hence, they have mainly corpuscular nature in these texts. This has been proved by the following inferences : (i) Heat (hot light) is mattergic as it heats up materials, it leads to sweating and is itself hot like fire. (ii) The light of any form (normal light. moonlight and lustre) is mattergic because it makes one cool, it makes one happy and satisfying like water and it illuminates the others like fire.
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