Jain Journal 1984 01

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 10

Notion of Declination Implied in the Concept of Mandala (Diurnal Circle) in Jaina School of Astronomy
SAJJAN SINGH LISHK
3
4
Jainas had a strange theory of two Suns and two Moons moving in circles round the mount Meru1 placed at the centre of Jambudvipa, the central island of flat earth2 made up of concentric rings of land masses alternatively surrounded by ocean rings. According to Jaina canonical literature, one solar or one lunar mandala (diurnal circle) was described by two Suns or two Moons respectively, each Sun or Moon describing one half. However, for all practical purposes of calculations only one Sun or one Moon suffices. Here an attempt has been made to probe into the concept of mandala and it is revealed that the Jainian concept of mandala alludes to the notion of declination.
1 The mount Meru possesses certain polar characteristics According to Tilak, Meru is the terrestrial north pole of the Hindus. (See Tilak, B. G., The Arctic Home in the Vedas, 1971, pp. 55-60.)
According to our exposition, the mount Meru as described in Jaina canonical works, represents Jaina tentative astronomical model. (See our paper 'Notion of Obliquity of Ecliptic implied in the Concept of Mount Meru in Jambudvipa Prajnapti', paper presented at 7th session of Jain Vidya Parishad, JVB, Ladnun and published in Jain Journal Vol. 12, No. 3, pp. 79-92.) However for more details, see S. S. Lishk's Ph. D. thesis 'Mathematical Analysis of Post-Vedanga Pre-Siddhantic Data in Jaina Astronomy', Panjabi University, Patiala (1977).
• For more details, see our paper 'Notion of Circular Flat Earth in Jaina Cosmography', The Jain Antiquary, Vol. 28, Nos. 1-2, pp. 1-5 (Arrah).
* Bose, D. M., Sen, S. N and Subarayappa, B. V. (1971), A Concise History of Science in India, p. 80, INSA, New Delhi.
Jaina canonical literature comprises of sacred texts of the Jaina sect in India. Its present recension is generally ascribed to the council of Valabhi under the presidency of Devardhi Ganin which met in 5th or 6th century A.D. The principal sources of Jaina astronomical texts are Surya Prajnapti (=SP), Candra Prajnapti, Jambudvipa Prajnapti (=JP) and also Sthananga Sutra, Anuyogadvara Sutra etc. Some later works like Tiloya Pannatti and Trilokasara etc. are also of much interest. However, for more details, see our paper 'Sources of Jaina Astronomy', The Jain Antiquary, Vol. 29, Nos. 1-2, pp. 19-32 (Arrah). In this paper, quotations (English version only) of JP and SP texts refer to the respective works; (Hindi commentary with original Prakrit text) by Amolak Rishi, Mahavir era 2445 (Sikandrabad). 5 See also Jain, L. C (1975), 'Kinematics of the Sun and the Moon in Tiloya Pannatti', Tulsi Prajna, Vol. 1 No. 1, pp. 60-67 (Ladnun).