Scientific Vision of Lord Mahavira

Author(s): Chaitanyapragyashreeji
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

Page 28

Scientific Vision of Lord Mahāvīra
7. Upāsaka-Daśā, 8. Anta-krta-Daśā, 9. Anuttaropapātika-Daśā, 10. Praśna-Vyākarana, 11. Vipāka-Sūtra, 12. Drstivāda.
The thesis is based on the fifth anga known as “Vyākhyā-prajñapti'. The work written in a dialogue style is called 'Vyākhyā-prajñapti'.
Besides, it is also known as Bhagavati Viyāhapannatti, Vivahapannati or simply Pannatti. This work is more voluminous than other angas. It is multifarious in its contents. Probably, there is no branch of Metaphysics, which has not been discussed in it, directly or indirectly. From the aforesaid point of view, this canon was held in high esteem. The adjective 'Bhagavuti* was, therefore, added to its original title "Vyākhyā-prajñapti'. Many centuries before, the adjective ‘Bhagavati became a part and parcel of the title. Now a day, the title 'Bhagavati is more in vogue than ‘Vyākhyā-prajñapti'. It is the most important work of the Ardha-māgadhi language. It is also the largest in size. It is not only a work of encyclopedic range but it is a veritable mine of the gems of knowledge, whose magnitude and depth, extension and intension are simply mind-boggling. This text contains questions and answers, between Mahāvīra and his disciples, particularly Indrabhuti Gautama. According to 'Samavāyānga'2 and 'Nandi Sūtru',} the present canon has an exposition of thirty six thousand queries whereas according to Tattvārthavārtika,4 Satkhandāgamas and Kaşāya-Pāhuda it has sixty thousand queries. It also contains material in the form of dialogue-legend. The Fifteenth chapter of the text contains legendary or semi-historical material relating to Mahāvīra's life and his relation with some of his predecessors and contemporaries. The text makes frequent references and cross-references to the angas like the Prajñāpanā, the Jīvābhigama, the Aupapātika, the Rājupraśniya, the Nandi and the Anuyogadvāra Sūtras.
An Encyclopedic Work in General
There are a lot of subjects dealt with in the Bh.S. All of them can be studied in the light of different sciences. Along with the metaphysical and spiritual talk we can find philosophical, scientific, historical and cultural discussions as given below at every step. This is why the Bh.S is rightly recognized as an encyclopedia.
Philosophical, Historical and Cultural View-point
The Bh.S discusses many philosophical, historical and cultural things. From philosophical point of view it describes five principal substances as fundamental realities. They are known as Pañcāstikāya.? Of these the medium of motion (Dharmāstikāya), the medium of rest (Adharmāstikāya) and space (Akāśāstikāya) are one, formless and invisible. Of the rest two, the soul (Jīvāstikāya) is infinite in number, formless, invisible, while matter (Pudgalāstikāya), being infinite, is visible. The multiformity of our world