Kya Pruthvi Ka Aakar Gol Hai - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Kya Pruthvi ka Aakar Gol Hai" (Is the Earth's Shape Round?):

Title: Kya Pruthvi ka Aakar Gol Hai (Is the Earth's Shape Round?) Author: Muni Shree Abhay Sagarji Maharaj Publisher: Jambudwip Nirman Yojna Theme: This book critically examines the prevailing scientific belief that the Earth is spherical and argues against it, drawing parallels with ancient Jain scriptures. It aims to prompt a re-evaluation of scientific dogma and strengthen faith in traditional knowledge.

Core Argument: The book fundamentally challenges the scientific consensus that the Earth is a globe. It asserts that modern scientific explanations for the Earth's shape and its phenomena are flawed, incomplete, and based on faulty assumptions. The author contends that these scientific ideas erode faith in ancient scriptures and cultural values, particularly Jain cosmology.

Key Criticisms of the Spherical Earth Theory:

Water on a Sphere: The author questions how vast bodies of water can remain level on a spherical object, arguing that water should naturally conform to the curvature and form depressions. The scientific explanation of gravity holding water in place is deemed insufficient.
Polar Depression Argument: The book dissects the argument that the Earth's rotation causes depressions at the poles, making it slightly flattened (oblate spheroid). It argues that if this were true, there should be visible depressions in the oceans at the poles, which are not observed. Furthermore, it questions the consistency of polar diameter measurements if ice or land is considered.
River Flow: The text argues that if the Earth is spherical, the flow of rivers like the Ganges and Indus should be significantly affected by the planet's curvature. It calculates drastic differences in elevation between geographical points, suggesting that the actual observed river flow doesn't match these expected gradients.
Engineering and Canal Construction: The book cites historical examples of engineering projects, specifically the Suez Canal and others, where engineers expressed concerns about constructing canals on a curved Earth. The author interprets this as evidence that engineers of the past did not accept the spherical Earth model due to practical difficulties and potential failures. The text also questions the lack of calculated depth adjustments in long canals, which would be necessary on a curved surface.
Visibility of Distant Objects: The book challenges the scientific explanation for why the lower parts of ships disappear first over the horizon. It argues that the same principle should apply to birds, airplanes, or people on high mountains, making them appear smaller and eventually disappear, but attributes this to the limitations of human vision and the 45-degree field of view, not the Earth's curvature.
Horizon Line: The perceived "meeting" of the sky and earth at the horizon (the horizon line) is explained as a visual illusion caused by the 45-degree field of vision, creating a dome-like appearance, rather than evidence of a curved Earth.
Circumnavigation: The author dismisses the concept of circumnavigation as proof of a spherical Earth, attributing the return to the starting point to "directional illusion" or the natural curvature of paths rather than a truly round planet. The argument is that even on a flat plane, one could theoretically travel in a loop.
North-South Travel: The book strongly emphasizes the supposed impossibility of a continuous north-south journey that would return to the starting point if the Earth were a sphere. It claims that while one can travel north, continuous south travel beyond the South Pole back to the starting point (e.g., Australia) is not feasible or has not been demonstrated in the way a sphere would imply.
Lunar Eclipse and Shadows: The text questions the explanation of lunar eclipses being caused by the Earth's shadow on the Moon. It presents an alternative argument involving a celestial body named "Rahu" (a concept from Indian astronomy) and suggests that the shadow is not necessarily the Earth's. It also questions how solar eclipses are visible across vast distances simultaneously if the Earth's spherical shape intervenes.
Weight and Gravity at Poles: The author cites reports suggesting that lifting a weight is significantly harder at the North Pole than at the South Pole, which they believe contradicts the idea of uniform gravity on a spherical Earth.
Ice Formation and Vegetation: The book mentions differences in ice formation and the types of vegetation found at equivalent latitudes in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, suggesting this indicates varying solar heat intensity which they believe is inconsistent with a spherical model.
Polar Star Visibility: The text questions why the North Star remains visible at certain southern latitudes if the Earth is truly spherical, suggesting this observation is problematic for the geodetic model.
Twilight (Ushakal) Duration: Differences in the duration of twilight at similar latitudes in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres are presented as evidence against a spherical Earth.

The Author's Perspective and Motivation:

Defense of Jain Scriptures: A primary motivation is to defend the accuracy and authority of ancient Jain scriptures, which describe a different cosmology. The author fears that the widespread acceptance of modern scientific theories, particularly the spherical Earth model, leads to a decline in faith in these sacred texts and religious principles like heaven, hell, karma, soul, and liberation.
Critique of Modern Science: The book positions itself as a critical examination of "modern science," portraying it as prone to "erroneous assumptions," "imaginations," and "incompleteness." It suggests that scientists are often driven by dogma rather than genuine empirical evidence.
Call for Re-evaluation: The author invites scholars and readers to approach the subject with an open mind, free from preconceived notions, and to critically analyze the presented arguments.
Jambudwip Project: The book is linked to the "Jambudwip Nirman Yojna," an initiative to build a model of Jambudwip (a central continent in Jain cosmology) to visually demonstrate Jain geographical concepts. This project aims to provide an alternative, comprehensible explanation of cosmology that aligns with Jain teachings.

Overall Message:

"Kya Pruthvi ka Aakar Gol Hai" is a polemical work that aims to dismantle the scientific understanding of the Earth's shape and advocate for an alternative cosmology based on Jain scriptures. It argues that modern science is fundamentally flawed in its assessment of Earth's form and that faith in traditional wisdom is essential for maintaining spiritual and cultural integrity. The book is a call to question scientific authority and to seek truth through a blend of introspection and the study of ancient texts.