Jainism

Author(s): M R Gelra
Publisher: Createspace

Page 10

COMMENTS
The new book 'Jainism in 13 chapters' is an excellent book for western people or the Indian people who do not have much knowledge about Jainism. The beauty of the book is the presentation of Jain concept in lucid manner without any confusion or mistake. The author of the book Prof. M.R. Gelra was Vice Chancellor of Jain Vishva Bharati Institute, Ladnun but, basically he is a chemist. He has in-depth knowledge of Jain Philosophy, Literature and conduct, so that he can explain the different aspects in scientific manner. We can easily see that the background of author influenced the style of presentation, which is unique and understandable.
The distinct features of the book as summarized by the author in preface are true, i.e. -
1. Prayer deals with "significance of Mantra". 2. Antiquity deals with the "contribution of the German scholars and Indus Valley
Civilization". 3. Metaphysics deals with the "concept of massless karma". 4. Pudgala deals with the "difference of attributes in between gross matter and
fine matter". 5. Philosophy deals with the "existence of co-opposites, the very basis of co
existent evolution". 6. Religion deals with the "acceptance of nonviolence for world peace". 7. Ethics deals with the "recent developments in Jain society". 8. Ecology deals with the "animate nature and environment". 9. Culture deals with the "equanimity and vegetarianism". 10. Art deals with the "iconography and temples". 11. Cosmology deals with the "eight point centre of the universe". 12. Mathematics deals with the "old concept of numerate, innumerate and
infinite".
13. Agams deal with the teachings of Lord Mahavira. Acharanga Sutra is the oldest
Agam composed in the style, contents and grammar, just like that of Vedas.