________________
150
JAN JOURNAL
The book has six chapters : Ch. 1. Advent of Space-Time, Ch. 2, Jaina views of Reality as Modern Thought of Space and Time, Ch. 3. Role of Quantum Theory in Deviant Logic, Ch. 4, Role of Universals, Thought Bxperiments : Reductio ad Absurdum, Ch. 5. General Theories of Space-Time, Ch. 6. Logico-Spatio-Temporal Space.
The book, in short, presents the role of the Syādvāda theory in the unification of Space and Time as enunciated by Einstein in his Quantum Theory. The reading of this book will help us to understand how the Eastern and Western thoughts of Space and Time can go on a par with each other, and how the Jains in those days thought of it. The book also proves the Jain's contribution to the scientific world, I can only say that every lover of Indian culture will have to read this book.
Satya Ranjan Banerjee
WENDY DONIGER (ed) - Purana Perennis, Reciprocity and Transformation in Hindu and Jaipa Texts, Sri Satguru Publications of Indian Books Centre, Shakti Nagar, Delhi, 1993, pp. xii+331, Price Rs. 300.00 only,
The leading American, European and Indian scholars discuss in this book the subject of the Purägas focusing mainly on the relationship between the Great Puraņas of the Sanskrit traditions and many other Purāṇas of different traditions. This book is a collection of essays beginning from the Vedic down to Jaina Purāņas, The book has three parts, and in part III, the Jaina Puranas are discussed. John E. Cort has surveyed the Jaina Puriņas in his paper, An Overview of the Jaina Puranas (pp. 185—206). This survey of the Jaina puräņas is quite good, particularly when the space is limited. The author has rightly said that the Jaina Purăņas 'would total about seven hundred' (p, 185). Padmanabh S. Jaini in his article, Jaina Puranas: a Puranic Counter Tradition (pp. 207-249) has excellently discussed the Jaina-Hindu interactions of the Puråņas. It involves his insight into the problem. This paper shows how rich the Jaina Puranas are as a nexus for investigating and understanding the Jaina Purāņas in all it aspects.
The book has notes to each chapter and an excellent Bibliography. I rocommend the book to all readers of Indology.
Satya Ranjan Banerjee
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
