Units of Length in Jaina Canons

Author(s): N L Jain
Publisher: Z_Aspect_of_Jainology_Part_2_Pundit_Bechardas_Doshi_012016.pdf

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N. L. Jain
Table III. Useful Information About different Measures
A. Worldly Measures (RV) or Dravyamana (ADS)
(i)
Standard or Basic Measure
(ii) Volume measure
(iii) Weight measure
(iv) Measure of mass/area.
(v) Measure of Numbers (vi) Measure of Cost
(ii) Measurement of Length/ Area, Kshetramana
(iii) Time measure, Kalmana
(iv) Measure of Quality, Bhavmana
Pratimana
Mana
Unmana
B. Paraworldly Measure (RV) or Measures (ADS)
(i) Measure of Mass/Volume, Dravyaman
Avamana
Ganana Mana
Tatpramana
(i) Number
Measure (ii) Simily Measure (i) Space point (ii) Division based
در
Qualities, Viewpoints, Number
Mustard seeds, Flowers of myrtle etc.
Measure of volume of solid and liquid; Kudav, Droni, Shodashika etc.
Measure of weights by balances.
(i) Measure handoup etc.
(ii) Measure of land by Dhanush etc.
Counting of Materials. Measure of cost by height (of horse) or halo of jewels etc.
of water in
Measure of mass/volume from an atom to the largest earth.
Basis of Measure of Length in Jaina Canons: Space Point or Pradesha
Jainas have independent reality of space like time. It accommodates all the realities in the Universe and it is the basis for the movements. It was included in the five 'astikayas' (reality with space points) from the very beginning and hence its. position is somewhat different from the time reality. The space has infiniteness, extension and omnipresence. It has no varieties of practical and real type like time. Nevertheless, it is assumed for practical purposes that the space occupied by atom is known as Pradesha or unit space-point. The extension of space is denoted in the form of these space-points. The infiniteness of space is due to its infinite number of space-points. These are the basis for length or distance units.
Measure from a space Pt. to the whole world. Measure from 1 samaya to infinite samasyas. Measure of qualities of Knowledge, perception, conduct and viewpoints, number.