Jain Journal 1978 01

SR No.: 520049
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 1978
Total Pages: 36
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 2 MB

Page 15

JANUARY, 1978
This implies a notion of celestial latitude of Moon.27 Besides it may be noted that radius of Meru is equal to the height of Moon over that of Sun above samatala bhūmi (denoting circular area with centre at the projection of pole of ecliptic), because height of Moon above Sun is
80 Y
5000 y
1 Y =
y)
radius of Meru's base on flat earth
-
==
500
8
(8)
Therefore when Moon is at maximum northern latitude, its distance from the periphery of samatala bhumi will be 800 less 80 Yojanas. This is Sun's distance from earth's true axis on Summer solstice day. Thus Sun's distance from earth's true axis on Summer solstice day is equal to Moon's distance (when Moon occupies maximum northern latitude) from Meru's tentative axis which lies on the periphery of samatala bhūmi. Thus it is quite probable that the notion of latitude of Moon, albeit inadequately, might have led towards the choice of radius of Meru.
91
Incidentally, it is worth noticing that the inclination of Kutubminar is almost equal to the inclination of lunar orbit to ecliptic. Probably the place of Kutubminar was therefore particularly chosen for linking the notion of maximum latitude of Moon with its inclination. The link of dimensions of Kutubminar with those of the Jaina model of Meru (see Fig. No. 2-a) lends further support to our view that the radius of Meru on flat earth might have been taken as equal to maximum latitude of Moon (height of Moon above Sun). It is worth noticing that the inclination of Kutubminar incorporates an almost correct value of maximum latitude of Moon, so the construction of Kutubminar may be antiquated to a period when correct value of maximum latitude of Moon became known. This may be a period of the advent of Siddhāntic astronomy or the fag end of Jaina astronomy. As several Jaina texts have become extinct by this time, so some more investigations are yet to be made in order to ascertain the antiquity of Kutubminar.
In our conclusory opinion, it may be remarked that the only characteristics for samatala bhümi as referred in the text is that Sun remains above it always at a height ('celestial colatitudinal distance' as implied in Jaina texts) of 800 Yojanas. However the consistency of figures 800 Y and 510 Y supports our views. Even in case of Meru, consistency of figures throughout gives a good criterion. It is also worth mentioning
27 Lishk, S. S. and Sharma, S. D. (1975) 'Latitude of the Moon as determined in Jaina Astronomy', Sramana, Vol. 27. No. 2, pp. 28-35.