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Jaina Theory of Skandhas or Aggregations : 211
There are two types of creatures found in water-air born and water born (Vāyu-yonika and Jala-yonika )62. The normal water is purified by boiling or by using alum. It is said that the ascetics should use the water cooled after boiling. The pure water becomes substratum for micro-organisms when kept for 12-24 hours. Fermented or lemon waters are acidic which increases on keeping them longer due to further fermentation where alcohol or vinegar is produced. These waters should not be used for drinking. The Prajñāpanā description about the sources of water is quite satisfactory. But they describe only solid or liquid water. Gaseous water does not find any mention in canons or later pro-canons.
Jivābhigama 63 mentions about 21 sources from which different types of alcohols or alcoholic medicinals could be prepared. Many partially fermented waters are included in Prajñāpanā waters. Mūlācāra points out that their eatability is only limited upto 24 hours fermentation64.
The general canonical literature does not contain much about alcohols and medicinal waters. However, Jivābhigama points out that these increase the strength of the body and health. These liquids form the subject of other faculties. It has been pointed out that they should not be used for better health and spirits. Amrtacandra65 has described alcohol as a source of many micro-organism and it causes intoxication and idleness. Butter is also produced by similar process. One does not have much description about liquid oils. However, butter and oils form a class of liquids which are water insoluble. Many other liquids are water soluble. They are described to some extent in Ayurvedic texts.
Jivābhigama mentions the shape of liquids in the form of water-drops ( spherical ) in contrast to circular shape of the earths basically66
It seems from the above that there were three main types of liquids in the olden times. Their number has grown enormous today. Their properties vary. The earlier description
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