________________
INTRODUCTION
explained. Moreover, the fact that no complete similarity or dissimilarity is seen between them all proves that there is constant action and interaction between different cultures, Cultural diffusion runs through and through.
The significance of a prodigy is self-evident though it is 5 not quite exempt from the impress of the tastes and sentiments of the people trying to interpret it. Sometimes the nature of the prodigy is also responsible for its origin and development'.
(II) THE PROVINCE OF THE UNKNOWN: The land of the unknown is almost always believed to have been shrouded in mystery 10 so much so that the skill of a very high order and the learning of the supreme type came to be viewed in course of time with something like awe and wonder mingled somewhat with fright. Michael-an Irishman of the 13th century is an example to the point. Heavenly bodies and the farthest regions of the earth's also were no exceptions.
59
(III) THE CONCEPTION OF OMENS AND PORTENTS: (a) General: What events should be considered prodigious and what value should be attached to them depends almost entirely on the condition of mind and the general outlook of the society.20 Examples are not wanting to show that a particular phenomenon in a particular society and at a particular time which might have been looked upon as most uncommon, would have passed down as quite a commonplace occurrence. Incidents happening frequently have lost their significance as prodigious and accidents 25 of the least intensity and importance pass of uncared for. Thus the treatment and the evaluation of a certain phenomenon are almost exclusively dependent on the social, political, religious, cultural and individual conditions then existing. A philosopher or a wise man will not be affected by ups and downs of fortune or by radical upheavals of nature while a fool will surely find fault with his own shadow and begin to believe that all accidents have been, as it were, devised for him. The Romans did not believe easily in anything, not even that a person was deads. It is in the very constitution of human mind that at some part of 35
1 T. CORYAT, Crudities, London, 1611, i, 114.
2 St. John D. SEYMOUR, IWD, pp. 52f.
3 E. W. NELSON, 18 RBEW, 1899, p. 442.
4 Seneca, QN, vi. 1.
5 Pliny, HN, vii. 53. Ed. E, A. SCHWANBECK, Bonn, 1846.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
