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PADMAVATHAMMA : ASCETIC MOTHER VISUDDHAMATI
very soon. Bhāskarācārya made an earnest endeavour to bring down her distress by teaching her the various aspects of Mathematics. The outcome of this effort is the famous Lilāvati Grantha which is a part of Siddhānta Siromaņi.
One may be surprised to know that in this 20th century also there is a Jaina nun-mathematician who is very much comparable to Līlāvati. But this is indeed true. She is ascetic mother Visuddhamati. The object of this article is to give a brief biographical sketch of her life and works.3
The couple Sri Lachamanlal Singhai and Smt Mathurabai got a daughter as fifth issue on 12th April 1929. She was born in a small village Rithi of Jabalpur District in Madhya Pradesh. At the time of her birth neither the people of her house nor others could imagine that this innocent child would become a great saint and mathematician. The little girl who obtained deep knowledge of Āgamās by means of hard meditation is Sumitrabai. She was very much influenced by the close contact and guidance of the famous saint, Sri Ganesh Prasad Varni. Since she was from a house of religious tradition and since her mother was very simple and kind-hearted, naturally from the childhood itself she was extremely well-mannered and was liked by all. Along with home-education she got some restricted school education also. The best culture which she inherited from her father was the most important wealth.
During the school days of Sumitrabai there was no strange or extraordinary instance. Before she had completed 15 years she went as a bride of an ordinary family in a nearby village Bakla and she started her family life. After this, unfortunately she was the victim of many misfortunes. Within a short interval she lost her parents. Besides this, within one and a half years of her wedded life she became a widow. This was a terrible blow and was a real test for the courage and confidence of this girl.
As per her desire, her brothers decided to educate her. Without wasting any time they started preparing her for primary education.
2 A new mode of life
During the times of calamity, if a man does not lose his confidence and courage, his strength and will-power is increased and becomes his part and parcel. Boldness is the only solution for any calamity. There is a Sanskrit saying dhirāstaranti vipadam na tu dinacittāḥ. During these days Sumitrabai adopted these principles.
3. This article is based on the following; Niraj Jain, Rakşā Bandhana,
Manisha Trust, Shanti Sadan, 1990.
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