Jain Dharmshastro Aur Adhunik Vigyan Ke Alok Me Pruthvi

This text, "Jain Dharmshastro aur Adhunik Vigyan ke Alok me Pruthvi" (Earth in the Light of Jain Scriptures and Modern Science) by Damodar Shastri, explores the concept of Earth from both Jain religious texts and modern scientific perspectives.

The author begins by highlighting humanity's innate curiosity about the universe and the earth. Indian culture, in particular, has always held a profound reverence for the Earth, viewing it as a mother figure. This sentiment is beautifully captured in the morning prayers offered by Hindus to Mother Earth.

The text then delves into the questions that have arisen in the human mind regarding the Earth's size, nature, origin, and creation. Vedic sages, like Dirghatama, are cited as having expressed curiosity about the Earth's boundaries, and the Upanishads reflect a similar quest for understanding our origins and sustenance.

Jain Perspective on Earth:

• Figurative Representation: Jain literature also personifies the Earth as a beautiful woman, with Aryavarta as her face, oceans as her waist girdle, forests as her hair, and the Vindhya and Himavat mountains as her breasts. However, being a religion of renunciation, Jainism ultimately guides the seeker towards the Siddha-loka (abode of liberated souls) rather than attachment to this mortal Earth.
• Spiritual Significance of Cosmological Knowledge: The Jain perspective emphasizes that understanding the nature of the Earth and the universe is spiritually more beneficial than seeking to control it. This knowledge helps a practitioner understand the cycle of birth and death and the consequences of actions, guiding them towards virtuous deeds and the ultimate goal of liberation. Jain cosmology, derived from the omniscient Tirthankaras, is not based on empirical testing but on direct spiritual realization.
• Role in Spiritual Practice: The study of cosmology is deeply intertwined with Jain spiritual practices:
  • Meditation (Dhyana): Contemplating the form, size, and inhabitants of the universe is a form of Dharma Dhyana (contemplation of dharma), specifically Samsthana-vichaya (contemplation of form/structure). This practice purifies the mind and reduces attachment.
  • Contemplation (Anupeksha): Repeated contemplation of the universe's true nature is a form of Lokanupeksha, leading to mental purification and reducing the intensity of the mind's fluctuations.
  • Renunciation and Purity: Understanding the vastness and cyclical nature of existence fosters detachment from worldly possessions and purifies the mind from karmic impurities.
  • Scriptural Study: The knowledge of the cosmos is considered a prerequisite for understanding and practicing Dharma.
  • Categorization of Jain Literature: Jain literature is divided into four Anuyogas (subjects). The study of cosmology falls under Karananuyoga (Digambara tradition) or Ganitanyoga (Svetambara tradition).
  • Puranas and Cosmology: Jain Puranas extensively describe cosmology. The study of these scriptures is considered Svadhyaya (self-study) and a form of penance.
  • Spiritual Benefits of Cosmological Texts: Texts like Chandrapragyapti and Suryapragyapti, as well as Jambudvipaprajnyapti, are believed to lead the reader or listener towards spiritual liberation.

Jain Cosmology Described:

• Number of Earths: Jain texts mention seven or eight Earths. The eight named Earths are Ratnaprabha, Sharkaraprabha, Balukaprabha, Pankaprabha, Dhumaprabha, Tamahprabha, Mahatamahprabha, and Ishatprabhara.
• Structure: The middle world, where humans reside, is the upper surface of the Ratnaprabha Earth. The Earths are supported by three layers of atmospheric spheres: Ghanodadhi, Ghanavata, and Tanuvata.
• Dimensions: The text provides detailed measurements in yojanas for the extent of these realms, contrasting them with modern scientific estimations.
• Earth's Shape: Jain scriptures describe the Earth's shape as circular, like a jhallari (cymbal) or sthali (cooking pot), or flat like a disc or mirror. This is in contrast to the modern scientific view of a spherical Earth.
• Earth's Material and Structure: The first Earth (Ratnaprabha) is described as being made of various gems, with distinct layers containing mines of precious stones.

Reconciling Jain Teachings with Modern Science:

The author addresses the apparent discrepancies between Jain cosmology and modern science, particularly concerning the Earth's shape and movement.

• Interpreting "Jhallari" and "Sthali": One approach suggests that the words jhallari and sthali could also refer to a cymbal (a musical instrument) or a cooking pot, which are round, thus aligning with a spherical Earth.
• The Evolving Nature of Science: The text emphasizes that scientific understanding is constantly evolving and that past scientific theories have been disproven. It mentions groups like the Flat Earth Society that challenge the spherical Earth model.
• Reinterpreting Jain Scriptures: The author notes efforts by Jain scholars to interpret the scriptures in ways that harmonize with or support scientific findings.
• Earth's Stability vs. Movement: Jain tradition generally views the Earth as stationary, contrasting with the modern scientific understanding of Earth's rotation and revolution. However, the text points out that this difference can be reconciled through the concept of relativity in physics and Anekantavada (non-absolutism) in Jainism. Einstein's theory of relativity is cited, suggesting that motion is relative.
• Cosmic Changes within Jain Framework: The text acknowledges that Jain scriptures describe both eternal and impermanent aspects of the universe. While the fundamental nature of the Earth remains eternal, changes in its form, including the accumulation of debris, shifts in landmasses, and the formation of rivers and mountains, are described within the framework of time cycles (kalachakra) and karmic influences.
  • Geological Changes: The text links geological phenomena like earthquakes to the movement of atmospheric layers beneath the Earth and to the karmic actions of beings.
  • Continental Drift and Mountains: The formation of mountains like the Himalayas is explained through the collision of continental plates, a concept that finds resonance in some Jain narratives about cosmic events.
  • Reconciling "Eternal" and "Changing": The apparent contradiction between the eternal nature of the Earth in Jainism and the described changes is resolved by understanding that the Earth's core essence remains eternal, while its surface undergoes transformations. The analogy of a house that remains the same even as its inhabitants change and repairs are made is used.
  • Jain Astronomical Calculations: The text explains the presence of multiple suns and moons in Jain cosmology by referring to the immense height of Mount Meru and other cosmic mountains, which would obstruct light from a single source. The movements of sun and moon chariots are described in detail to explain day and night cycles across different regions.
  • Shifting Landmasses and Oceans: The text suggests that the current configuration of continents and oceans, along with features like the formation of islands, can be explained by geological processes described in Jain texts, such as the inflow of seawater into created trenches.
• The "Unspoken" Knowledge in Jain Agamas: The author suggests that some geological and cosmological changes described by modern science might have been part of the lost sections of the Jain canon, particularly the Drishtivada Anga.
• The Importance of Study and Faith: The conclusion emphasizes the need for a deep study of Jain scriptures and a shift from blind criticism to faith-based understanding to truly appreciate the profound insights of Jain teachings.

In essence, the book attempts to bridge the perceived gap between ancient Jain wisdom and modern scientific understanding by offering interpretive frameworks and highlighting areas of potential convergence, while also acknowledging the distinct spiritual and philosophical underpinnings of Jain cosmology.