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Technical Sciences in Jaina Canons (191)
The seventy-two arts for women mention a number of arts to be learnt by them in the area of home science involving 26 arts. They include (i) cosmetics22 (from natural products like turmeric, myrtle, etc.), natural and perfumed hair-oils, hair-tonics, shampoos, (Triphalā, Śikākāī, Rīṭhā etc.), hair-dyes etc. (ii) soft and medicated drinks (iii) dairy products and fermentation technology (from 23 sources), butter and rejuvenating preparations like Cyavanaprāśa. The details of many of them are found in literature.
The indigenous medical science was quite developed contemporarily. There was a well-established medical preparation technology for powdered, decocted mixtures and solution medicines". The multiply boiled extracts or fermented mild-alcoholic extracts (like Asavas, Aristas etc.) of Ayurvedic medicines showed a high technical know-how.
One, thus, finds a large number of technical sciences described in Jaina canons. However, it must be kept in mind that the different skills were based on the basis of caste and family and they kept it a trade secret. Hence, the normal details as expected today are not found in the canons. Still one has sufficient stray qualitative and in some cases (i.e. medical preparations), quantitative details which lead to a guess of their empirical nature. Secondly, Jaina canons represent the age of natural products and, hence, most of the skills were based on their utilization for serving the cause of humanity. These should be deeply studied with a historical perspective. The deficiencies there have led to the current age of better technology.
References
1. Lists of Jaina Scholars in India and Abroad, Jaina International, Ahmedabad, May 2001.
2. Jain, N. L.; In Arhat Vacana, 7.1.95, P.75-84.
3. Acārya Samantabhadra; Ratnkaraṇḍaka-Śrāvakācāra, Poddar Trust, Tikamgarh, 1996.
4. Jain, N. L.; Paper read at SOAS Seminar, London, 2002.
5. Acarya, Puspadanta & Bhütabali, Şatkhandagama, Jivasthana-1, Amaraoti,
1939, P.56
6. Jain, D.C. (Editor); Jinavāņi (special number), 59.1-4, April, 2002
7. Acarya, Umäsväti; Tattvärtha-sūtra, Varni Granthamala, Kashi, 1946
8. Acarya, Kundakunda; Kundakunda Bharati, Jaina Samaja, Khekra, 1992
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