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346 : Scientific Contents in Prākrta Canons
distinction between them. On this basis, the Jaina material view of sounds and refutation of its wave-nature represents the classical physics though postulated some 2100 years ago. The 4touch atomic aggregate nature of sound by Jainas stand on a firm footing even today. The Vaiśesika non-materialistic and wave-like propagation postulate about sound seems to be somewhat post-Newtonian in approach. The current scientific view seems to synthesise these two viewpoints though holding more towards waveside. That is why they have mathematicised the science of waves and wave-fronts27. However, for a common man, Vaišeșika view seems to be more intelligible as he is not in a position to realise the finer dimensions of energy particles. The Sānkhya's infra-atomic ( tanmātrika ) view of sound also falls in this category.
Very little is said about the detailed nature of sound in other Indian philosophies like its fine-gross and atomic aggregatal nature. The Jainas presume many qualities of non-perceptible nature in sound but not non-existing. Some of these qualities of materiality are not substantiated by physicists (like thunderbolt shape etc). However, they point out that sound particles ( waves ) have larger wavelength/size than light particles. The amplitude of sound waves varies between 10-910-2 cm. and its wavelength varies between 0.3 to 3.0 meters 28.
Many Jaina concepts are agreeable to physicists where they have quantitative aspects in many cases. These include almost all properties mentioned in earlier part of this section. The facts enunciated for proving materiality of sound are also aggreeable to the physicists. However, they have added some more to them like refraction, diffraction, beats and resonance, ultrasonics and interconversion of sound in different energies which have proved a boon to modern civilisation. (b) Generation of Sounds
The physicists agree to the four canonical methods of sound generation in a qualitative way. However, there seems to be no mention about vibrations being produced in sounding
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