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Survey of the Work Done on Jain Mathematics
Sh. ANUPAM JAIN
ABSTRACT - In this article the author has drawn the attention of Scholars on the history of Mathematics
towards the original source books on ancient Jain Mathematics. Attempt has been made to compile an almost upto-date list of the works done by various researchers on the subject.
The Jain literature, both religious as well as otherwise is indeed extremely vast and varied. In line with the corresponding literature of the vedic Hindus and the Buddhists, the Jainas have contributed a great deal to different branches of knowledge such as Grammar, Poetics, Koshas, Stories, Religion, Cosmology, Cosmography and indeed all the physical and social sciences known to us today. Language and Literature, Philosophy and Ethics, Fine Arts and Science, History and Culture of India inherited the rich literature of Jainism through the course of development of the original canon over the centuries.
Jain philosophy has propounded not only a unique theory of the soul and karma, but its contribution in the field of Science (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Zoology, Botany, Astronomy etc.) is also very significant. The ancient Jain literature composed in Prakrit (Shorshaini & Ardhamagdhi) and Apbhransha languages contains significant material about the traditional as well as modern Mathematics. A systematic development of mathematical thought may be traced in the available Jain literature inspite of the fact that so many mathematical and conanical texts have either been lost or are still lying unexplored it.1
Early Jaina Texts Sürya prajnapti, Sūtrakritānga, Sthānānga Sūtra (Thānam), Bhagwati, Sutra (Vyākhyā Prajnapti), Jivābhigama Sutra Uttarādhyayan Sūtra, Anuyogadvara Sūtra, Jamboodvipa Prajnapati and its commentaries written by Shilänka (9th C. A. D.), Abhaideva Sūri (11th C. A. D.), Hemchandra Susi (11th C. A. D.) and Malaigiri (12th C. A. D.) contain many important rules and descriptions about eight fundamental operations, frictions, combinations and permutations, law of indices, numbers, decimal place value system etc. A lot of material about plane as well as solid geometry is also available. Tattvārtha Sutra of Umāswami (Umaswati ?) is the first authentic religious work of the Jainas composed in Sanskrit Some available commentaries, namely, tattvärtha-dhigama Bhâsya (Umaswati), Sarvärtha Siddhi (Puivapāda) Tattvärtha Rājvårtka (Akalank), Tattvärtha Shloka Vartic (Vidyanand) etc, contain many Geometrical formula and list of measurement. Concepts of Newton's first law of motion and law of conservation of energy are also available in rough form.
An idea of the un-explored Jain Mathematical Works can be had from the Author's Article on 'Some unknown Jain Mathematical Works' (Hindi) Ganita Bharti (Bulletin of Indian Soc. for History of Mathematics) 4 (1, 2) PP. 61-71 Jan-Apr.-1982. The Dates of these texts are controversial but in any way it can't be prior than 500 B.C. and later than 500 A.D.
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Aare fourg
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