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Vol. 14, No. 2-3, 2002, 79-90
ACARYA VİRASENA AND HIS MATHEMATICAL CONTRIBUTION
■Mrs. Pragati Jain & Dr. Anupam Jain'
ARHAT VACANA
Kundakunda Jñanapiha, Indore
Jainism, an ancient religion, is well known for its excellent culture, tradition and heritage. The contribution of Jainas is not confined to literature alone, but has also extended to the science in general and mathematics in particular. There is a rich tradition of mathematics among Jainas. Many Jaina Acaryas/scholars contributed a lot in the field of mathematics. Acarya Sridhara, Acarya Mahavira, Simha Tilakastiri and Thakkarapheru are few names who had independently written mathematical texts. There are many other Jainacāryas who are basically philosophers but their texts contain enough mathematical knowledge. The names of Acarya Yativṛasabha, Virasena, Nemicandra, Madhavacandra and Pt. Todarmala can be included in this list.
Acarya Virasena is one of them whose name came on the top in the list of philosopher mathematicians. His famous book is Dhavala Tika (commentary on Satkhandagama of Puspadanta and Bhutabali) written in the beginning of ninth century A.D. It is a text of first rate importance and treated as Agama in Jaina community especially in Digambara sect. It is more clear by the statement written by A.N. Singh1:
'The Dhavala becomes a work of first rate importance to the historian of Indian Mathematics, as it supplies informations about the darkest period of history of Indian Mathematics the period preceding the fifth century A.D.'
The above statement inspired me to go through the valuable commentary. This voluminious commentary first published by Jaina Sahityodharak Fund, Vidisha, Amravati and then by Jaina Sanskriti Samrakshak Sangh, Solapur under the editorship of Dr. H.L. Jain and A.N. Upadhye in sixteen volumes. It is an important source of mathematical informations of the dark period of Indian Mathematics i.e. 500 B.C. to 500 A.D.
As per the information available in different Jaina texts, four more commentaries has been written on The Satkhandagama, before Virasena by Kundakunda, Samakunda, Tumbultra and Bappadeva. All these commentaries had been used by Virasena in the process of writing the Dhavala commentary.
Asst. Proffesor-Mathematics, I.L.V.A. Commerce & Science College, Indore. ** Department of Mathematics, Holkar Autonomous Science College, Indore -452 009
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