Jambudwip Part 03

This Jain text, "Jambudwip Part 03," published by Vardhaman Jain Pedhi, is a collection of essays and articles exploring various aspects of Jain cosmology, philosophy, and their intersection with modern scientific understanding. The book aims to present Jain teachings as scientifically valid and relevant to contemporary society.

Here's a breakdown of the key themes and content, based on the provided pages:

1. Introduction and Publisher's Note (Pages 1-6):

• The book is published by Shri Vardhaman Jain Pedhi, Palitana, indicating it's likely from a significant Jain institution.
• The publication is dedicated to the Sadhu-Sadhvi community and is priced at ₹16.00.
• The introductory pages express the publisher's intention to highlight the "originality of geography and astronomy" within Jainism, aiming to present the "eternal truth" of Jainism to a world that has "lost its way under the shadow of modern scientific materialism."
• It mentions the efforts of Muni Shri Abhay Sagrji Maharaj to make Jain principles scientifically accessible to the educated youth, aiming to challenge the foundations of materialism by scientifically proving concepts like the soul, reincarnation, heaven, and hell.
• The book is a result of a "Tattvajnan-Vigyan-Gani" (Philosophy-Science-Monk) conference held in Palanpur in 2039 VS (1982 AD), where scholars from across India presented essays.
• The publication acknowledges delays due to press limitations, the chief editor's health issues, and the challenging nature of publishing philosophical and scientific content. It expresses gratitude to the editorial board and contributors.

2. Table of Contents and Key Articles (Pages 7-11): The book is divided into several sections: Gujarati, Hindi, Sanskrit, and English.

Gujarati Section: This section features articles on a variety of topics, including:

• "Jainism and Modern World" by Pujya Acharya Shri Devendra Sagar Suri M.S.
• "Relativism in Jainism" by Muni Nandighosh Vijayji M.
• "The Soul Element in Indian Philosophy" by M.T. Buch.
• "Unity in Diversity" by Kishorebhai S. Dave.
• "Birth and Rebirth" by A. Vishnu Dev Pandit.
• "Rebirth Philosophy" by Shri Pushkar Chandravarkar.
• "Gravitation (1) A Question Worth Considering" by Mohanbhai N. Shah.
• "Gravitation (2) A Light Review" by R.B. Shah.
• "Stars of Dhruva" by Ramanlal B. Shah.
• "The Earth Rotates!" by S.B. Sharma.
• "Refutation of the Theory of Earth's Rotation" by R. Chotalal Purohit.
• "Cosmic Description based on Agni Purana" by R. Chotalal Purohit.
• "Indian Astronomy" by Himmatray M. Jani and Himaben H. Jani.
• "Astronomy and Jain Philosophy" by Nanalal Vasa and Mohanlal N. Shah.
• "The Earth is Stationary!!! And Also Flat!!!" by Yashvant J. Rawal.
• "Founder of Palanpur, Raja Prahladan Dev" by Yashvant J. Rawal.
• "Gravity" by Charles K. Johnson.
• "Is it Blind Faith or Superstition?" by L. B. Shah.

Hindi Section:

• "Self-vision of Sanskrit Poets" by Dr. Rajendra Singh.
• "The Concept of Soul in Indian Philosophy: A Critical View" by Dr. Lalchandra Jain.
• "Jyotisha-Raj-Prajnapti: An Overview" by Muni Kanhaiyalal.
• "Architecture and Brief Description of Jambudvipa" by Shrimati Phoolkuvar Jain.
• "Moon Journey: What are the Facts?" by Dr. Tej Singh Gaur.
• "The Imperfection of Modern Maps in the view of an American Scientist."
• "Jain Dharmashastra and Modern Science in the light of the Earth" by Dr. Damodar Shastri.
• "Geographical Basis of Vedic Creation Science" by Dr. Shyam Sundar Nigam.
• "Description of the Earth in Christian-Nistic Religion" by Dr. A.B. Shivaji.
• "Arrangement of the Cosmic Cycle in Available Jain Texts" by Ratanlalji Kataria.
• "Earth and Sun in Surya Siddhanta" by Dr. Bhagwati Lal Purohit.

Sanskrit Section:

• "Measurement of Jambudvipa" by Pt. Abhay Sagar Muni.
• "Science and Science-Skepticism" by Dr. Rudradev Tripathi.
• "Theory of Earth's Motion" by Pt. Abhay Sagar Muni.
• "Jain Shastras and the World Philosophy" by Pt. Abhay Sagar Muni.

English Section:

• "Notion of Circular Flat Earth in Jaina Cosmography" by Sajjan Singh Lishk & S.D. Sharma.
• "Sources of Jaina Astronomy: A Jaina Canonical Literature" by Sajjan Singh Lishk & S.D. Sharma.
• "Our Research Activities: Black-Holes Known to Jain Religion Thousands of Years Ago" by Niranjan Vakharia.
• "Gravity Motion" by Charles K. Johnson.

3. Key Themes and Arguments:

• Re-evaluation of Jain Cosmology: A central theme is the re-examination of Jain cosmology, particularly its descriptions of the earth, sun, moon, and other celestial bodies. Several articles challenge the modern scientific consensus, arguing that Jain scriptures offer a more accurate and scientifically grounded perspective.
• Flat Earth and Stationary Earth: Some articles, like the one by Yashvant J. Rawal and Charles K. Johnson, present arguments and "proofs" suggesting that the Earth is not a globe but is flat and stationary, contradicting widely accepted scientific theories. They attempt to use astronomical observations and interpretations of Jain texts to support this view.
• Critique of Modern Science: There's a recurring critique of modern science, especially its reliance on purely materialistic explanations and its perceived limitations in understanding deeper spiritual realities. The authors often contrast this with the perceived scientific validity and comprehensive nature of Jain teachings.
• Scientificity of Jain Principles: Several articles aim to demonstrate the scientific basis of Jain principles such as karma, rebirth, the nature of the soul, and the structure of the cosmos. They highlight concepts like relativity being present in Jainism much earlier than Western science.
• Reconciliation of Science and Religion: The overarching goal seems to be to bridge the gap between Jain philosophy and modern science, showing that Jainism is not inherently anti-science but rather offers a deeper, potentially more accurate, understanding of the universe.
• Historical and Textual Analysis: The book delves into the analysis of ancient Jain texts, including the Angas, Upangas, and various Siddhantas, to extract and interpret astronomical and cosmological information.

4. Specific Examples of Arguments/Content:

• Earth's Shape and Motion: The articles by Yashvant J. Rawal, Charles K. Johnson, and H.K. Sharma directly challenge the heliocentric and spherical earth models, presenting arguments based on observations, compass behavior, river flow, and the supposed impossibility of high-speed planetary motion for physical objects.
• Black Holes in Jain Texts: Niranjan Vakharia's article claims that Jain texts described "Black Holes" and "Tamaskay Regions" thousands of years ago, presenting them as vast, dark regions in space with specific characteristics that he equates to modern astronomical concepts.
• Moon Journey Skepticism: An article by Dr. Tej Singh Gaur and others critically analyzes the Apollo moon missions, raising doubts about their authenticity and suggesting that the events described in Jain scriptures might be more accurate.
• Cosmological Descriptions: Articles by authors like R. Chotalal Purohit and Shrimati Phoolkuvar Jain detail the specific cosmological models found in Jain texts, including the structure of Jambudvipa, the dimensions of mountains like Meru, the arrangement of various heavens and hells, and the system of continents and oceans.
• Jain Astronomy vs. Modern Astronomy: Articles by Himmatray M. Jani and S.D. Sharma discuss the sources and nature of Jaina astronomy, comparing its systems and measurements with modern astronomical understanding.
• Indian Astronomy as a Whole: Dr. Shyam Sundar Nigam discusses the geographical basis of Vedic creation science, suggesting ancient Indian traditions had sophisticated astronomical knowledge.

Overall Impression:

"Jambudwip Part 03" appears to be a compilation from a specific school of Jain thought that emphasizes the scientific validity of its ancient scriptures. It actively seeks to engage with and, in some cases, challenge modern scientific paradigms, particularly in cosmology and physics, by reinterpreting or presenting alternative models based on Jain canonical literature. The book serves as a platform for scholars within this tradition to present their findings and arguments for the scientific basis of Jain teachings.