कुन्दकुन्द ज्ञानपीठ में संग्रहीत गणित एवं आयुर्वेद विषयक पांडुलिपियां
By Anupam Jain, Surekha Mishra
Summary
The article documents selected **mathematics and Ayurveda manuscripts preserved at Kundakund Jnanapitha, Indore**, presenting the institution as an important centre for Jain studies, manuscript preservation, and research. Established in **1987** following discussions during the **Acharya Kundakund Dvisahasrabdi celebration** held in Indore (18–19 October 1987), the institution was initiated under the guidance of **Devkumar Singh Kasliwal** and formally inaugurated on **19 October 1987** in the presence of then Chief Minister **Motilal Vora**. Operational planning and long-term development were shaped by **Dr. Anupam Jain**, while **Dr. Ajit Kumar Singh Kasliwal** contributed significantly to institutional expansion. The article notes that the institution operates under the **Digambar Jain Udasin Ashram Trust, Indore**, and highlights its activities, including a research centre, reference library, archaeological documentation, manuscript cataloguing, invited lectures, examination programmes, research publication, and manuscript preservation. At the time described, the library held approximately **27,000 books and 659 manuscripts**, with around **85,000 manuscripts catalogued** and **7,000 digitized/scanned**. The article then presents a concise catalogue of **mathematics-related manuscripts** preserved at the institution. Among the most important is ***Ganitasara* by Hemaraja (Godika)**, dated to **1673 CE**, a brief composition of **89 verses** explaining Jain numerical categories such as **countable (saṅkhyāta), innumerable (asaṅkhyāta), and infinite (ananta)** and their subdivisions; the authors describe it as the oldest currently known Hindi work on Jain mathematics written in **Devanagari script**. ***Lokanuyoga* attributed to Acharya Jinasena** is interpreted as an extracted treatment of cosmological discussions from the *Harivamsha Purana* intended to explain the structure of the Jain cosmos. Other mathematical manuscripts include ***Ganitasara Sangraha* and the *Uttara Chhattisī* commentary (associated with Sumatikirti)**, ***Kṣetra Ganit* linked to Mahaviracharya’s *Ganitasara Sangraha***, ***Rekha Ganit* by Jagannatha Samrat** on geometry, and ***Trailokya Dipaka***, an illustrated cosmological manuscript connected with **Pandit Vamadeva**, surviving in copies at Indore and Shri Mahavirji and containing three sections on cosmology. The article next surveys **Ayurveda-related manuscripts**, describing their themes rather than offering textual analysis. ***Rasa Manjari* by Shalinatha** discusses medicinal preparations, sulphur oil, gem purification, poison characteristics, and therapeutic compounds. ***Kala Jnana Aushadhi Shastra*** concerns treatment methods for major diseases, while ***Madanavinoda Nighantu* by Madanapala*** addresses disorders such as fever, vāta–pitta conditions, eye and head ailments and their treatment. ***Jvara Chikitsa*** focuses on fevers and therapies, ***Vaidyaka Mantra Stotra*** treats disease through mantra-based healing, and ***Vaidya Manotsava*** describes pulse diagnosis, vāta–pitta–kapha characteristics, bodily examination, and severe fever symptoms. Additional manuscripts include ***Kalyanakaraka* attributed to Ugraditya Acharya**, addressing diseases such as leprosy, tuberculosis, fever, reproductive disorders, and abdominal ailments; ***Nighantu*** on medicinal substances such as camphor, sandalwood, mint, bitter gourd, and herbal remedies; ***Hindi Vaidyaka*** and ***Vaidyaka Shastra*** on disease treatment; ***Rasa Kaumudi* by Jnanachandra** on metals, gold, copper, medicinal processes, and formulations; ***Madhava Nidana*** on diagnosis and treatment of fever, diarrhoeal disorders, and other diseases; ***Vaidya Jivana* by Lolimraja**, ***Vaidyakasara Sangraha* by Harshakirti Suri**, ***Nidana Muktavali*, *Vidya Vinoda* of Akalanka Bhatta, *Bhaishajya Muktavali*, *Rasa Chikitsa Paddhati*, *Vaidyakasara Samuccaya*, *Amritasagara*, *Vaidya Rahasyabhyoga Samuccaya* by Vidyapati, and *Pakavali***, each dealing with diagnosis, materia medica, disease classification, medicinal compounds, or therapeutic methods. The article’s principal aim is documentary: to introduce the scope and scholarly value of mathematical and Ayurvedic manuscripts preserved in the Kundakund Jnanapitha collection.
Summary reviewed by a volunteer editor.
Conclusion
The article establishes **Kundakund Jnanapitha, Indore** as not merely a repository of manuscripts but a structured centre for preserving and transmitting interdisciplinary knowledge through mathematics and Ayurveda. By cataloguing texts ranging from Jain numerical thought and cosmology to diagnosis, therapeutics, and medicinal formulations, the study highlights how manuscript traditions preserved at the institution reflect a sustained intellectual continuity between scientific inquiry, practical knowledge, and Jain scholastic culture. Its distinctive contribution lies in demonstrating the scholarly value of manuscript preservation as a means of recovering overlooked histories of knowledge.