Book Title: Jainism
Author(s): M R Gelra
Publisher: Createspace

Previous | Next

Page 114
________________ cube. It projects six surfaces and eight points. This cubical shape with eight points is known as eight point center, (EPC). One must note the contributions of the Jains to be able to depict these immensely complex structures with unimaginable simplicity. E. Schubring the German Indologist highly appreciated the Jain mathematician's remarkable mode of developing an eight point centre which forms geometrically a figure of the three dimensional universe. It reveals that Jains had a wonderful insight into the natural world. 3. Directions The cubical unit representing the centre of the universe is quite significant since all the directions originate from this unit. In the realm of space, four main directions, four intermediate directions, zenith and nadir directions appear. It is reported that the main directions are drum-shaped and reach infinity. These are the cosmological directions and are permanent; do not depend upon the movement of the sun. Such extension of directions going even out of universe i.e. Aloka shows that space can exist only where there is the possibility of directing and direction. 114

Loading...

Page Navigation
1 ... 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148