Jain Dharm Vigyan Ki Kasoti Par

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Jain Dharm Vigyan ki Kasoti Par" by Nandighoshvijay, focusing on the first few pages and the core argument:

The book, "Jain Dharm Vigyan ki Kasoti Par" (Jainism on the Touchstone of Science), by Nandighoshvijay, asserts that Jain principles, particularly those embodied by Lord Mahavir, are not only compatible with but also validated by modern science. The initial pages establish Lord Mahavir as a "global scientist" whose teachings stand the test of scientific scrutiny.

The text begins by detailing the life of Lord Mahavir:

• Birth and Early Life: Born in 599 BCE in Kshatriyakund Nagar, Magadha (present-day Bihar), his parents were King Siddhartha and Queen Trishala. His childhood name was Vardhaman.
• Asceticism and Enlightenment: After his parents' passing when he was 28, he renounced worldly life at the age of 30, embarking on a path of self-realization. He underwent twelve and a half years of rigorous asceticism, culminating in the attainment of Keval Gyan (omniscience) on Vaishakh Shukla-10.
• Keval Gyan and Tirthankara Status: Through his Keval Gyan, he could perceive the past, present, and future of all beings and substances in the universe. This insight led to his recognition as a Tirthankara.
• Moksha: He attained Moksha (liberation) on the auspicious night of Diwali, Ashvin Krishna-30, by shedding his physical body.

The text then introduces the concept of Arhantya, which in Jain tradition refers to the state of a Tirthankara. Arhantya is described as a unique spiritual and material power.

• Spiritual Aspect: It is the result of the Tirthankara soul's exceptional aspiration in past lives to bring welfare to all living beings.
• Material Aspect: It is the consequence of the immense merit (punyai) accumulated through the Tirthankara Nāmkarma, which is a result of that noble aspiration to benefit all beings.

The book clarifies that all karma is material, with "Pudgal" referring to atoms. The atoms within the "karmic matter" (karman vargana) associated with Tirthankara Nāmkarma possess excellent qualities of color, smell, taste, and touch. The convergence of this spiritual power (acquired through self-discipline) and material power (from Tirthankara Nāmkarma) generates a formidable energy known as Arhantya. The text posits that, in the language of modern science, this energy can be understood as a highly advanced form of bio-electromagnetic power.

The text further explains that the manifestation of this power is experienced by every being during five significant events in a Tirthankara's life, known as Kalyanaks:

1. Chyavan Kalyanak (Conception): When a Tirthankara soul descends from the celestial realm to incarnate on Earth, every soul in the universe experiences a sense of bliss as a manifestation of their Arhantya. This is an imperceptible yet profound event.
2. Janma Kalyanak (Birth): The physical birth of the Tirthankara. The immense energy from their Tirthankara Nāmkarma creates an extraordinary sense of joy and spreads light throughout the universe, experienced by all souls. During their householder life, they bring welfare wherever they go, making every moment beneficial for others.
3. Diksha Kalyanak (Renunciation): The auspicious commencement of their spiritual practice. Until this point, the focus was solely on the intention of welfare; now, it marks the beginning of actively striving to fulfill that aspiration through disciplined spiritual practice.
4. Kevalgyan Kalyanak (Omniscience): The culmination of their intense spiritual discipline, bringing welfare to both themselves and others. Upon attaining Keval Gyan, the Tirthankara's immense energy becomes directly perceptible to all. This energy is so potent that even after their departure from a place, beings there continue to experience pure bliss for six months.
5. Nirvana Kalyanak (Liberation): Upon the exhaustion of their lifespan karma, the Tirthankara leaves their physical body and attains their pure soul form, having imparted teachings that benefited all beings. This event of attaining Moksha is called Nirvana Kalyanak.

The book concludes the initial pages by stating that Lord Mahavir, a highly pure and great soul, lived over 2600 years ago, and his Nirvana occurred over 2530 years ago. His principles continue to align with scientific verification, making them universally acceptable and valid. The quote from Fritjof Capra about the interconnectedness of opposites is included as a philosophical endorsement of the Eastern worldview.