JAIN VISHVA BHARATI UNIVERSITY

Jain Mathematics: Historical And Theoretical Aspects

 Okober 29-31, 2009

The Department Of Jainology And Comparative Religion & Philosophy
Jain Vishva Bharati University

The Jain Vishva Bharati University is located on the campus of Jain Vishva Bharati, an international organization founded in 1970 under the inspiration of Acharya Tulsi, the saint and social reformer. He became the University’s first Anushasta (highest moral and spiritual authority). His successor is an avantgarde thinker and philosopher, Acharya Mahaprajna. The institutional work and activities of the University are inspired by the high ideals of anekanta, ahimsa, tolerance and peaceful co-existence.

The Jain canonical and post-canonical literature recurs to mathematical forms of argument in order to explain the foundational truths of Jainism. To the present, however, the specific contributions to mathematics that Jainism has offered have hardly been explored and assessed. Taking this into account, the Department of Jainology and Comparative Religion & Philosophy is organizing a National Seminar focusing on the mathematical elaborations and treatises contained in the vast religious and philosophical corpus created by seers, commentators and thinkers ever since the inception of the Jain written tradition in the fifth century B.C.

Besides promoting scholarly interest in this new and exciting field of studies the proposed seminar aims at contributing to the establishment of a reliable record of mathematical concepts, formulae and operations employed by Jains throughout their intellectual history. Such a step constitutes a sine qua non for developing a history of Jain mathematics that would eventually lead to an in-depth revision of the history of Indian mathematics as a whole.

1. Mathematical theories and computations contained in Jain scriptures such as the canonical Anga, Upanga and related texts.
   
2. Analysis of the structure and scope of Acharya Mahavira’s Ganitasara Sangraha, one of the foremost mathematical treatises written in the post-canonical period.
   
3. Biographical and historical aperçus on the Jain thinkers and scientists who have made significant contributions to the development of mathematics in India.
   
4. The relevancy of Jain mathematical theories that were used to articulate broader intellectual concerns—such as the theory of karma, cosmology and the philosophy of   life--, and that anticipate modern mathematical developments in areas as diverse as number and set theory, geometry and the emerging theory of logarithms.  

Closing date for abstract submission: July 25, 2009. The abstract should not exceed 200 words. By August 5, 2009 submitters will be notified of whether or not they have been selected for presenting a full version of their papers at the seminar.

Closing date for paper submission: October 21, 2009.  Papers should not exceed 10,000 words and should be typed using Word format (one and a half spacing and font size 13). Soft and hard copies of the paper, written in Hindi or English, should be sent to the co-ordinator. The University will publish a selection of the presented papers.

All participants should register upon arrival.

All outside participants will be provided free board and lodging facilities on campus. These facilities will be available to the participants from the evening of October 28, 2009 night to till the morning of November 1, 2009. Only vegetarian food will be served.

The university will also bear to & fro travel cost of all paper presenters by bus or train fare upto III A.C. by the shortest route. Travel expenses will be reimbursed only on production of confirmed tickets.

The Department of Jainology and Comparative Religion and Philosophy, that is organizing this seminar, is an independent post-graduate department of JVBU. It offers Two-Year M.A., One-Year M.Phil. and three-month certificate course at regular basis in Jainism and Comparative Religion & Philosophy.

Dr. Samani Mangal Prajna
Vice-Chancellor,
Jain Vishva Bharati University, Ladnun

Prof. Muni Mahendra Kumar
Dept. of Jainology and Comparative Religion & Philosophy, JVBU, Ladnun

Dr. Samani Chaitanya Prajna
Head, Deptt. of Jainology and Comparative Religion & Philosophy, JVBU, Ladnun

Prof. Vishvanath Mishra
Prof. Dr. Damodar Shastri
Dr. Samani Riju Prajna
Dr. Samani Ritu Prajna
Samani Rohini Prajna
Samani Aagam Prajna
Mr. Yogesh Kumar Jain

Prof. M.R. Gelara: Chair Person
Prof. L.C. Jain: Member
Prof. Anupama Jain: Secretary
Dr. Ananda Prakash Tripathi: Convener

The University is located at Ladnun, a small town in Nagaur district of Rajasthan, 220 km North-West of Jaipur and 365 km West of Delhi.  Ladnun is well connected by road from Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udipur, Ahmedabad, Bikaner and Ajmer. Those traveling by train from or via Delhi will have to avail the Delhi-Jodhpur route and alight at Kuchaman City from where the University vehicles would receive them. Ladnun in the last week of October has a fine weather.

All communications with regard to the seminar may please be addressed to Seminar Co-ordinator, Dr. Samani Chaitanya Prajna

Dr. Samani Chaitanya Prajna
Head, Dept. of Jainology and
Comparative Religion & Philosophy
JAIN VISHVA BHARATI UNIVERSITY
LADNUN 341306, NAGAUR (RAJASTHAN)
Phone: 01581-223622; Fax: 01581-223472
Mobile: 09413142180; E-mail: [email protected]