Jinamanjari 1999 04 No 19

SR No.: 524019
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jinamanjari
Publisher: Canada Bramhi Jain Society Publication
Publication Year: 1999
Total Pages: 88
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, Canada_Jinamanjari, & Canada
File Size: 5 MB

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Jinamañjari, Volume 19, No. 1, April 1999
Mathematical Contents Of Jaina Texts Dr. L.C. Jain, Jabalpur, India Dr. Padmavathamma, Mysore University, India
Certain mathematical contents in Prakrit texts of the Jainas are explicated in regard to the view of symbolic mathematics employed in the Karnataka Vrtti (commentary) on the Gommaṭasāra and the Labdhisāra, as enumerated by Pandit Toḍaramala (c.1721-61 C.E.). This centralizes the karma theory in the Jaina School. The cosmological theory contains both astronomical and geographical mathematics with deeper in approach to the setting of the mathematical background of a model.
Jaina technical terms in Prakrit texts of the Karanaṇānuyoga or the Dravyanunyoga, import mathematical significance - philosophy tinged with mathematics. As Bertrand Russell has in his Introduction to Mathematical Philosophy, the Jaina mathematical philosophy appears in the texts for the first time. The Karṇāṭaka Vrtti of the Gommaṭasāra carries this mathematical philosophy in detailing the Jaina karma system in symbolic forms, arithmetical, algebraical and geometrical.1
Mahāvirācāraya,2 the author of the Gaṇitasāra Saṁgraha, did collect the mathematical material from the Jaina source material and he goes further in stating that whatever else is to be said may be seen in the Āgama. Sridharācāraya is still controversial, however, in the history of mathematics.3
The Parikarma, a commentary work of Kundakundācāraya and the Jyotiṣapatala of Mahaviracāraya are not yet available. Also, reported commentary works of celebrated Tumbulūrācāraya and Samantabhadrācāraya are not available. These could have traced and detailed the algebraic symbolism of the Karnataka Vrtti of Kesava Varņi. There are several problems in the history of mathematics and science regarding the source in India, as talents of scholars of Jainism and Prakrit have not been channeled towards at university level. Only recently, university of Bhopal in India has a bold step in this direction by offering a course in the department of religion and culture.
There are problems regarding the origination of and motivation of a paradigm shift in the terminology and usage of symbols. In the Prakrit texts, we find the logical and philosophico-mathematical terms
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