Mahavira and his Teaching

Author(s): C C Shah, Rishabhdas Ranka, Dalsukh Malvania
Publisher: Bhagwan Mahavir 2500th Nirvan Mahotsava Samiti

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PROF. G. R. JAIN temperature and pressure all over the universe. Efficiency of a heat engine is greater, if the difference of temperatures between the source and the exhaust is large i.e. greater the difference of temperatures, the higher is the efficiency. In other words we can say that the availability of energy for doing work is becoming less and less every moment and when the entropy of the universe reaches its maximum, no work will be possible because the temperature and pressure will be the same everywhere. The state of affairs will correspond to the idea expressed in Mariner's poem, "Water water everywhere, but not a drop to drink.” The sum total of the energy in the universe will be the same as before but it will not be available for work. No motion of any kind will be possible. The whole universe together with its inmates will be at a stand-still. Living beings will neither be able to move nor to breathe. Blood will not circulate in their veins. Life of all forms will be extinct. What next?, is a glaring question before the scientists. They believe that the Universe can not end. Thus, some unknown force must rewind the dock of the universe so that it may be set running once again. According to Hindu belief, the rewinding is done by the Almighty God, whereas according to Jainas, the process is automatic.
There is another line of thinking in Science. According to this Sun is the source of energy for all life on earth. It is on the advent of the Spring season that buds open; it is the heatenergy which brings forth new life from within an egg; it is the energy of the sun which the human beings, animals and vegetables utilize for their growth. The sun is a hot body with its surface temperature of 6000° C. and in the interior the temperature is two crores of degrees centigrade. It is radiating energy incessantly in all directions and as such it ought to cool down some day to the temperature of its surroundings. But it has been maintaining this temperature for billions of years and will continue to do so for a few billions of years more, when it will altogether disappear. The reason is this: Several millenniums before Christian era, our Tírthankaras taught that heat and light are fine forms of matter and thesefore, have weight. This discovery was made by