Scientific Contents in Prakrta Canons

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

Page 9

(i) unverifiable but ideal concept of the Attaineds (modified later as specialists) as composers of scriptures.
(ii) containment of many inter or intra-contradictory statements in canons violating the criteria of consistency, (iii) containment of many perceptual, inferential and logical contradictions.
Moreover, the criteria of unchangeability of postulates is also violated because many of their contents do have (i) definitional (conceptual ), (ii) numerical, (iii) namal, (iv) sequential and (v) reductio-incremental modifications as shown in Table 1 in some typical cases whose references could be found in relevant chapters which start from the first book of Ācārānga onwards. The final point has been shown in the end against each entry in the Table.
[ VII
Table 1: Some Typical Conceptual and Physical Modifications in Jaina Scriptures.
(A) Conceptual / Definitional
1. Religion
2. Definition of Upayoga
3. Definition of Direct Perception
4. Birth-types of 1-4 sensed beings
5. Shape and volume
of Universe
6. Animistic Concept
(B) Sequential
7. Order of Realities/Tattvas
(C) Namal
8. Six essentials
Three-fold, four-fold, five-fold Knowledge & Conation: Bliss & energy etc. in addition Without-sense knowledge With/without-sense knowledge Asexual to sexual also
Different in Sutras and
Dhavala; 239-343R.
Animistic and non-animistic concept
As like Gitā: Logical (Umāsvāti)
Partial difference in Dig. & Svet.