Scientific Secrets of Jainism

Author(s): Nandighoshvijay
Publisher: Research Institute of Scientific Secrets from Indian Oriental Scriptures Ahmedabad

Page 134

Limitations Of Mathematics In Jain Philosophy And....
103
these doctrimes of pure mathematics, which were more ancient even than the Vēdas, were profusely used in the Vēdas. This means that this kind of mathematics had fully developed in India before it took birth in the culture of western countries or civilizations.
According to the belief of śri Sankarācārya of Kanchi, the author of Vedic Mathematics, the functional use of the sūtras was not limited only to arithmetic i.e. multiplication, division, addition or subtraction but they were equally useful in algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus etc. According to the opinion of Dr P. C. Vaidya this is only a statement. There is not any reference about the use of these sutras regarding to various branches of mathematics. Limitations of Mathematics In Jain Philosophy Though mathematics is essentially an imaginary subject, it was invented and developed to satisfy human needs. The chief aim of Jain philosophy is to explain the nature of the universe and Samsāra i.e. birth-death cycle and mathematics is used as a practical means of doing it.
The universe has a limit. But what is the limit? How many things and what kinds of things does it contain? Mathematics is the shortest way of expressing all this. In the universe, there are infinite atoms (paramāņus) and objects. In order to show the number and real nature of them mathematically, 'Sirsaprahēlikā' a number of as many as 250 digits, is used. As shown in Jain Agama entitled 'Jambūdvipaprajñapti' 'Sirsaprahēlikā' has two different sets of digits according two different traditions. According to the tradition of the convocation of learned Jainācāryas and monks held in Mathurā i.e. Māthurivācanā, there are 194 digits, consisting of 54 different figures and 140 zeroes. But according to the Vallabhivācanā, there are 250 digits consisting of 70 different digits and 180 zeroes. According to the Māthurivācanā "Sirsaprahēlikā' has (84,00,000)2 = 758,263,253,073, 010,241,157,973,569,975,696,406,218, 966, 848,080,183,296, x 10140 digits. But according to the Vallabhivācanā 'sirşaprahēlikā' has (84,00,000)36 = 187,955,179, 550,112,595,419, 009, 699,813,430, 770,797, 465, 494, 261,977, 747,657, 257, 345,790,6816x10180 digits. Since it is not possible to mention the number of all the substances of the universe even with this number, Jain scripturists have shown various kinds of innumerable and infinite numbers. An 'Āvalikā' has as many 'Samayas'
.