________________
Chapter - 13
TECHNICAL SCIENCES IN JAINA CANONS*
Introduction
It is pleasing to note that Jainology has recently attracted the attention of the world of scholars in various fields. This is represented by a list of nearly 500 foreign and 1500 Indian scholars published by Jaina International in 2001. Though, its scientific contents have not allured these scholars as much as desired, still many Jaina monks like Muni Mahendra, Kșamāsāgara, Kanakanandi and Nandi Ghosa Vijaya and others and some scholars like G. R. Jain, L. C. Jain, N. L. Jain and others have been able to throw some light on the scientific contents in Jinistic literature - though not to the extent desired. Some Seminars are also organised by monks. But they have not made any advent in full exploration of these contents. That is why the general world is ignorant of its scientific literature.
The Jinistic literature is quite vast with an imaginary canonical size. It deals with many subjects related with physical and spiritual world. This is composed in many contemporary languages. The early literature mentions six-fold learnings involving (1) agriculture (ii) technology of the days (iii) warfare and weaponry (iv) ink-use (v) physical and abstract sciences, arts and supernatural learnings and (vi) trade and commerce. However, its later literature mentions 220 subjects of studies growing from time to time. It mentions the subjects of learning for men and women. Their collective listing based on nearly ten sources goes up to approximately 140 each. Jain has classified them under twelve current branches of learning involving abstract science, life science, home science, medicine, agriculture,
This paper was presented in International History of Science Congress, Liege, Belgium, 1997.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
