Scientific Contents in Prakrta Canons

Author(s): N L Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

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About the Book There has always been two categories of scholars — traditionalists and moderates. It is the later who carry the torch of knowledge ahead. The scientific age has resulted in increase of moderate scholars with scientific outlook presuming knowledge as ever-flowing river. The Austrian indologist and Dixit have initiated the approach of studying Jainology with historical and scientifically evaluative perspective to contain the current of faith erosion.
The early Jaina Canons contain about one-third of their contents related with physical world. The above approach directs to treat these contents as specific to those periods and as mile-stone in development of thought process. This book is an attempt to induce this approach to cover the contents in the areas of Chemistry, Physics, Botany, Zoology, Food Sciences and Medical Sciences. The material presented here will convince the reader that religious themes have also been undergoing changes like scientific concepts and therefore science should not be degraded on this score. Secondly, the book will lead one to learn that the Jainas have had better intellect in contemporary theorisa-tion. However, their physical observations on visible phenomena seem to be quite insufficient in number and variety in views of our current knowledge, which has not only supplemented them to a large extent but has given better understanding and clarity on many issues. This non-traditional book has a point to improve the status of scientificity in religion to strengthen faith in moral and spiritual values.