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Introduction
XV
philosophical and scientific. Scientific does not mean they are scientifically proved but can be subject to scientific research or study. Bh.S is really a voluminous and largest text to study almost all the unique doctrines proposed by Jain Seers technically recognized as “Tirtharkar'. As we go deeper and deeper into the study of the text we find many more new things in it. The first chapter of the work deals with such innovative ideas in very brief. Not only this, the chapter intends to make the reader acquainted with the similarity and dissimilarity of the contents of the text with other Jain canonical literature. Thereby the importance and weightage of Bh.S can easily be gauged. As far as my knowledge goes, such type of introduction of the text is not found anywhere else.
The second chapter of my work mainly deals with the cosmic conceptions found in Jainism in general and in Bh.S. in particular. The longstanding queries related to the origin and fate of the universe have been dealt with in the text in a non-absolutic way which in itself is scientific. The answer shows that universe is an ongoing phenomenon. The natural universal laws govern the universe. Modern science also accepts that there are certain laws which are working behind the world. Besides, the Bh.S. deals with the center of the universe which is a new discovery. The discussion of the configuration of the universe is also unique. The expanse of the universe, computed through the illustrations of the speed of gods and goddesses, proves the fact that some truths are such which cannot be explained even in the mathematical language. The most striking finding of this chapter is to bring out the concept of curvature of the universe to knowledge. Science has proved and latter on rejected curvature in space. But according to the Bh.S. curvature is not in space; it is in cosmos. In the ends of the cosmos we can find curvature because of the occupation of the medium of motion and the medium of rest in a particular geometrical shape. Another finding of the chapter is, it deals with a systematic order of the universe under the concept of stratification. The concept indicates to the systematic structure of the universe and shows interdependency of the constituents of it. The basic elements in the form of the medium of motion and that of rest described in the second chapter are really very scientific and unique postulations. These two fundamental principles play a very important role in determining the demarcation line of the cosmos and supra-cosmos and preventing the world to be chaos.
The third chapter mainly deals with space and time. The Bh.S. mentions time in various forms which are quite practical. Along with this, time as a substance in atomic form, which is extensively dealt with in the Digamber tradition, can be seen in its formative stage in the text. The postulation of the supra-cosmos or trans-cosmos of Bh.S. discussed in the chapter is also amazing. The expanse of supra-cosmos is shown as immeasurable even by the fastest speed of the gods. The configuration of it has been compared with a sphere of infinite radius, having a hole in center.
