Jain Bhugol Par Ek Drushtipat - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Jain Bhugol par Ek Drushtipat" (A Glance at Jain Geography) by Nemichandra Singhi, based on the provided pages:

The article, "Jain Bhugol par Ek Drushtipat" (A Glance at Jain Geography), written by Nemichandra Singhi, a retired Chief Draftsman from South East Railway, aims to provide a comparative perspective on Jain cosmology and geography in light of modern scientific advancements, particularly space exploration (Apollo missions to the Moon, Viking missions to Mars). The author notes that two institutions in India are dedicated to researching Jain geography: the Bhu-Bhraman Shodh Sansthan in Kapadvanj, Gujarat, and the Digambar Jain Trilok Shodh Sansthan in Hastinapur. Both these institutions primarily rely on Jain literature for their research.

The author then presents a detailed comparison of Jain and modern scientific perspectives on various astronomical and cosmological concepts:

1. Modern Earth's Characteristics vs. Jain Concepts:

Modern Science: Describes Earth as a sphere with a radius of 3260 miles, diameter of 7620 miles, circumference of 24851 miles, and vast surface area and volume. It acknowledges the Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn and the distances of the Moon and Sun from Earth. A solar year is 365 days, and a lunar year is 354 days, with a 24-hour day-night cycle. Modern science posits a single Sun and a single Moon.
Jain Geography: While not directly detailing Earth's specific measurements in this excerpt, the focus is on the structure of the universe as described in Jain texts.

2. The Sun and its Influence:

Modern Science: Describes the Sun's immense size (865,000 miles diameter), mass, and gravitational pull (28 times Earth's). It highlights the Sun's distance from Earth (93 million miles) and the speed of light, explaining how solar heat sustains life, seasons, and vegetation.
Jain Geography: The article later implies the existence of two Suns in Jain cosmology, which is a significant departure from the modern single-Sun model.

3. Lunar Cycles and Indian Panchang:

Indian Panchang (Almanac): States the longest day is 16 Muhurats and the shortest is 13 Muhurats. It notes the Sun's entry into zodiac signs and constellations. A lunar year has 354 days with 13 lunar months and 27 constellations. An intercalary month leads to a 384-day year.

4. Jain Cosmology: Jambudvipa and Sudarshan Meru:

Jambudvipa: Described as a disc-shaped continent in the center of the Middle World (Madhyaloka) with a diameter of one lakh Yojana and a radius of fifty thousand Yojana. Bharatkshetra is located in the south.
Lavan Samudra: Surrounds Jambudvipa, forming a ring-shaped ocean, two lakh Yojana wide.
Sudarshan Meru: Located at the center of Jambudvipa, with a base diameter of ten thousand Yojana and a height of nineteen thousand Yojana, tapering as it rises.
Lokas: Above the Meru begin the heavens (Svarga Loka). The highest realm, seven Rajus up, is Moksha Loka. Below the Meru are the realms of Vyantar and Bhavanvasi deities, and beneath them are the Naraka Loka (hells).

5. Celestial Movements in Jain Geography:

Two Suns and Two Moons: The Sudarshan Meru is circled by two Suns and two Moons in opposite directions.
Day and Night Cycles: When the two Suns are 66,640 Yojana apart in the Cancer orbit, the longest day is 18 Muhurats (14 hours 24 minutes), and the night is 12 Muhurats (6 hours 36 minutes).
Annual Cycle: The Suns expand their orbits, becoming 100,660 Yojana apart in 183 days, reaching the Capricorn orbit. At this point, the shortest day is 12 Muhurats (6 hours 36 minutes), and the night is 18 Muhurats (14 hours 24 minutes). A complete orbit for one Sun takes 30 Muhurats (24 hours) around half the Meru. Two Suns take 60 Muhurats (48 hours) for a full revolution.
Videha Ksetra: The duration of day and night in this region is not explicitly detailed but is inferred to be complementary to the Bharata region, meaning when Bharata has an 18-Muhurat day, Videha might have a 12-Muhurat day, and vice versa, assuming a 30-Muhurat (24-hour) cycle.
Lunar Cycles (Detailed): The article details the movement of the two Moons. They take 14 days to move from the Cancer to the Capricorn orbit and another 14 days to return, a total of 28 days for a full cycle of widening and narrowing. However, it also states that crossing 27 constellations takes 1334 days during the Uttarayana and 1334 days during the Dakshinayana, totaling 2668 days.
Lunar Months and Days: The article provides examples of lunar month lengths from Indian Panchangs for the years 1976-77 and 1977-78, noting variations in days per month and the concept of an "Adhik Shravan" (extra month). It also lists dates of the Moon's entry into Aries and Ashwini Nakshatra.

6. Angular Measurements and Celestial Speeds:

Angular Divisions: In Jain geography, a full circle (360 degrees) is divided into 1,830 segments for ease of calculation. The Sun traverses 6 degrees per Muhurat.
Celestial Body Speeds: The Sun travels 1830 segments per Muhurat. The Moon travels 1768 segments per Muhurat, and constellations travel 1835 segments per Muhurat. Rahu travels 1826 segments per Muhurat.
Relative Speeds: Constellations move 5 segments ahead of the Sun per Muhurat. Rahu is 53 segments ahead of constellations. The Moon is 67 segments behind constellations.
Realignments: The article calculates how long it takes for a constellation to catch up with the Sun, Rahu, and Moon based on these relative speeds, yielding results for a solar year (366 days), Rahu year, and lunar year.
28 Constellations vs. 27: Jain geography includes 28 constellations, with Abhijit being the 28th, whereas Indian Panchangs typically recognize only 27. The Uttarayana is considered to start with Abhijit.

7. Rahu's Movement:

Jain Geography: Rahu moves in the opposite direction and at a very slow pace.
Indian Panchang: The article provides a table showing Rahu's position relative to constellations over time, indicating it crosses only three constellations (Swati, Chitra, Hasta) in two years, and its direction is contrary to Jain descriptions.

8. Solar Light Span:

Trilokasar Text: According to Trilokasar, the Sun's light extends from the middle of Meru to the sixth part of the Lavan Samudra, reaching 1800 Yojana downwards and 100 Yojana upwards. The author notes an unexplained discrepancy in the extent of solar light.

9. Sun's Orbit and Year Length:

Orbital Path: The Sun moves in 184 orbits between 46,820 and 50,330 Yojana from the Meru's center, with a 256 Yojana interval between orbits.
Orbital Duration: Each orbit takes 60 Muhurats (two days).
Year Calculation Dilemma: If the Sun takes two days per orbit, completing 183 orbits would take 366 days for both Uttarayana and Dakshinayana. This conflicts with the 183-day per ayana concept. If an ayana is 183 days, it implies 61.5 orbits, creating a mathematical inconsistency. The author also notes the English calendar's year is 365.25 days, not 366.
Editor's Note: An editor's note suggests that the presence of two Suns in Jain cosmology resolves this calculation difficulty.

10. Day and Night Lengths:

Trilokasar: States that in the inner circumference (Cancer orbit), the day is 18 Muhurats and the night is 12 Muhurats. In the outer circumference (Capricorn orbit), the day is 12 Muhurats, and the night is 18 Muhurats.
Indian Panchang: Mentions the longest day as 16.5 Muhurats and the shortest as 13.5 Muhurats.

11. Conclusion and Call for Action:

Discrepancy: The author concludes that Jain geography does not align with Indian Panchangs.
Missing Information: Jain geography doesn't detail the movement of planets like Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn. Therefore, it cannot be used to create a Panchang.
Modern Astrology: Modern Panchang creators have incorporated planets like Herschel, Neptune, and Pluto. The general public relies on these modern Panchangs for cultural and religious activities.
Recommendation: The author urges the Jain community to form a committee comprising scholars (Karananuyogi), scientists, astrologers, and mathematicians to thoroughly examine these discrepancies and determine the truth.
Modern Aids: The author suggests utilizing planetariums in Kolkata and Mumbai for understanding celestial bodies and satellite information from India's Aryabhata and Fakhruddin Ahmed satellites.

Source Material: The primary source for this article is the "Triloksar" by Shriman Nemicandra Siddhanta Chakravarti, with commentary by Shriman Madhavchandra Vidyadeva. The author also mentions using modern formulas for calculations and referencing specific verses and their page numbers from the published edition.

In essence, the article highlights the significant differences between Jain cosmological descriptions and modern scientific understanding, as well as inconsistencies when compared to traditional Indian Panchangs. It calls for a scientific and scholarly re-evaluation within the Jain community to reconcile these disparities.