Scientific Contents Of Jaina Canons Astapahuda By Kundakunda

Author(s): N L Jain
Publisher: Z_Jain_Vidya_evam_Prakrit_014026_HR.pdf

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जैनविद्या एवं प्राकृत : अन्तरशास्त्रीय अध्ययन
also burns in air. (SP, BH) (v) Water is not only purifier but it is also purified by alum-a practice
used even today. (vi) There are five types of fabrics : Natural silk, cotton, woolen, jute
and skin. These are still in use with details. (MP. 79) (vii) Various types of gems have been mentioned as metaphors. Out of
them, the diamond has been shown to be the best. The gems form a refracting surface and rays appear to come from them. Manikya, Bajra, Spharika and ruby red also find mention. They are all
natural ones. (viii) A traditional statement also occurs that the sea contains gems. (ix) The isotropic nature of salt crystal has been pointed out. (x) Pervasiveness of oil in til, butter in milk and fragrance in flowers
are established facts even of today. (xi) Insolublity or inertness of stones to water has also been mentioned.
(BhP. 93) Biological Sciences
The biological sciences deal with living substances of all kinds from fine to gross and from one sensed to five sensed. Kundakun da has described them to be in the form of six kāyas or fourteen javasamāsas, as shown in Table 3 elaborated later to 98 varieties, on sense basis-a better way of classification based on other factors.22 If the one-sensed variety is subclassified in five and development is taken in three forms rather than two, then by addition of all the forms, one gets 98 varieties as shown in Table 4 (BhP. 95, Commentary).
Table 3 Classification of Living Substances
Living Substances 2 sensed 3 sensed 4 sensed 5 sensed
I sensed
Gross Fine
with mind without mind
F** UD FD UD FD UD FD UD FD UD FD UD F'd UD * FD-Fully developable ; UD-Undevelopable. परिसंवाद-४