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Muni in pursuit of science through
Jain treatise RANDOM NOTES
By Tushar Bhatt (Senior Editor, The Times of India,
Ahmedabad Edition)
In the spacious first floor hall at the Ambawadi Jain Upashraya, silence ruled, A few monks here and there, disciples of Acharya Suryodayasuriji, were seated on the floor, in front of small, reclining writing desks. There were only a couple of devotees around, whispering in order not to jar the peace. Outside, there was a steady drizzle and the aftemoon was dragging on at a drowsy pace, as if reluctant to make way for the evening. The monks seemed totally obvious to the somnolence that the weather was casting on worldly mortals.
Dressed in the mandatory white cloth of a Jain monk, Muni Nandighoshvijayji was absorbed in writing. Several ruled, foolscap pages, filled with neat handwriting lay around. Next to him stood a rack filled with books for reference.
He was making notes on a subject that many might think unlikely topics to preoccupy celestial mind of monks: mathematics and purer physics, Einstein's theories, quantumn leap. This in addition to the routine chores of a monk.
If Tao of Physics can be acceptable, it is, perhaps, perfectly in order for a monk to undertake a reverse examination of science. Leaming has been a time-honoured tradition among the Jain monks, as would be testified by the works done over centuries. Even today, new entrants to the order under any Acharya spend years, Sanskrit, Prakrit and Agams and other literature. Acharya Suryodayasuriji himself has done a lot of work in researching and writing in these areas.
But 42-year- Nandighoshvijayji has charted alınost a new course for nearly a decade-and-a-half now, exploring pure science and examining its compatibility with what has been observed, and remained buried to the cominon eye, in the Jain scriptures.
The Muni, with a frail body, topped by a head with receding hairline, face covered deliberately uncared for beard that sprouts inany grey strands, has a winsoine smile, sparkling eyes and a scientific teinper. He triggered a debate on
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| SR No. | 001603 |
| Book Title | Scientific Secrets of Jainism |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Nandighoshvijay |
| Publisher | Research Institute of Scientific Secrets from Indian Oriental Scriptures Ahmedabad |
| Publication Year | 2001 |
| Total Pages | 378 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English, Science, Religion, & Articles |
| File Size | 21 MB |