Bridging the Cosmos: Ancient Jain Scriptures Revealed Through Modern Astronomy

Reviews:

Shri Pankajkumar Shah has analyzed the problem and has tried to redefine the boundaries of the nakshatras. Pioneering as the work is, the details of which can be found in the 10^th section of the book. The importance and the significance of Shri Pankajkumar Shah’s work both for the ancient Indian tradition and in particular to the Jain tradition cannot be overstated. This work will be a guiding light for future investigators for a long time to come. The author welcomes this path breaking contribution and wishes all the success to Shri Pankajkumar Shah. May Shri Pankajkumar Shah bring forth many more books and further our knowledge and reveal the hidden treasures of astronomy of the Jain tradition.-B. N. Narahari Achar Professor Emeritus University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152

Jain astronomical texts provide a multitude of data that can be used to gain valuable insight into our glorious history. Jain astronomy provides a bridge between Vedic astronomy and classical Hindu astronomy. While a lot of scholarly work has been done in dating the Hindu texts, Jain texts have not received the scholarly attention they deserve. The work by Pankaj ji is a great step towards filling this gap.-Dr. Raja Ram Mohan Roy Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

The publication of this book will be an important addition to the field of Indian Astronomy, and it will be welcomed by the academic world. In my opinion, mathe-maticians, and experts of Jainology will find it fascinating and engrossing.-Dr. Anupam Jain, Professor of Mathematics Government College, Sanwer 453 551 Indore- India

Now we have factual evidence to show that the Nakashtra system is traceable to the Jain tradition. This book by Pankaj Shah is the outcome of his detailed and long investigations into the astronomical content in ancient Jain scriptures. His study indeed gives us an excellent survey of the status of the astronomical knowledge accruable from the Jain canon.-Dr. Shrenik Bandi Prof. Emeritus IPS Academy, Indore, M. P. India

Mr. Pankaj Shah has made an extraordinary contribution for Jains and non-Jains alike showing the antiquity of astronomical knowledge in India dating back to 13^th century BC. I wholeheartedly congratulate and bless him for this timely and important contribution.-Acharya Shri Vijay Nandighoshsuriji