Painnay suttai Part 3

Author(s): Punyavijay, Amrutlal Bhojak
Publisher: Mahavir Jain Vidyalay

Page 34

INTRODUCTION
of Science, the workable meaning of the word 'eternal' can be nothing but 'very old'. Hence Jaina pundits should present before scholars such proofs as may establish by universal system of logic the antiquity of the Jaina religion. If they do so, even the antiquity of Arya culture will be quite firm.
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The Western scholars viewed in the past and are viewing even now Indian culture with great suspicion. But due to the publication, examination and comparative study of Sanskrit literature in general and Vedic literature in particular this suspicion is gradually disappearing in great degree. As a result of this, perfect originality and antiquity of Indian culture is being established. By writing this small essay I want to show that if the Jaina pundits extend their cooperation in this field of research they will no doubt earn fame they deserve.
A small treatise named 'Vedanga Jyotiṣa' is regarded as the oldest one among the extant Sanskrit works on Jyotisa (Astronomy). Its language is very old, laconic and fraught with allusions and suggestions. This is the reason why it is very difficult to understand it. Hence though scholars like Dr. Thibaut, Mm. Sudhakara Dvivedi, Jyo S. B. Dixit and Lokamanya Tilak have been attempting hard to get at its meaning since 1877 A.D., they have not succeeded in grasping the full import and meaning of it. But the miraculous act, considered til now to be impossible, has been accomplished easily by Mm. Dr. Sham Shastry of Mysore and that too with the help of works on Jaina Jyotișa. These are the three Jaina works viz. Suryaprajñapti, Jyotiskarandaka and Kalalokaprakāśa. Revered Doctor noticed clear similarity between the system of Vedänga Jyotisa and that of the abovementioned Jaina Jyotisa. Again, he found that those very verses of Vedanga Jyotisa, which were left untranslated till today, considering them difficult to understand, became not only consistent and easily understandable but meaningful also, on account of the help rendered by Jaina works. It is the help rendered by Jaina works, that made the name of Dr. Sham Shastry, the first research scholar who turned incomprehensible Vedānga Jyotiṣa comprehensible and complete, well known in the world of Indian Studies.
In the work of editing the already mentioned Vedänga Jyotisa, a minor inconsistency has arisen in connection with verse 288 of Jyotisakarandaka.
"uktam caitat Jyotisa Karande (p. 196 verse 288)laggam ca dakkhiṇāyanavisuvesu vi assa uttarṁ ayane I laggam säivisuvesu paṁcasuvi dakkhiņam ayane II 288