Book Review
By Paul Marett
Summary
The final section of the issue is a review of K.V. Mardia’s book “The Scientific Foundations of Jainism.” The reviewer notes that Professor Mardia, a distinguished statistician and practising Jain, sets out to show that Jainism is a science with religion and to present its principles in terms that will resonate with modern readers. According to the book description, Mardia constructs four axioms that summarise the foundation of Jainism: for example, the first axiom states that “the soul exists with karmic matter and it longs to be purified”. After a brief introduction to Jain doctrine, the author introduces these axioms and discusses their theoretical and applied aspects. He draws connections between Jaina logic and contemporary scientific thinking, illustrating how concepts from modern physics can elucidate Jain cosmology and vice versa. The book is structured in three parts. First Mardia explains the basic ideas of soul, karma, living and non‑living matter and relates them to the Jain account of life and death. He then turns to the practice of self‑conquest and the path of purification. In the final part he places Jain logic in its rightful position as a valid system and integrates it with up‑to‑date scientific theories. The review emphasises that Mardia deliberately avoids excessive use of technical terminology so that the flow of the argument is not hampered. He includes illustrations and presents his arguments in a clear, accessible style. The reviewer, Paul Marett, points out that Mardia’s scientific training and devotion make him uniquely qualified to bridge the gap between Jain tradition and modern science. Marett summarises the book’s threefold division and praises its balanced approach: it offers both philosophical analysis and practical guidance, and it relates ancient doctrines to current scientific understanding. The book also contains a bibliography, glossary and index, making it a useful resource for students and researchers. Overall, the reviewer commends the work as a valuable contribution to Jain studies and as an accessible introduction to the scientific dimensions of Jain philosophy.
Summary reviewed by a volunteer editor.
Conclusion
The review concludes that Mardia’s “The Scientific Foundations of Jainism” succeeds in presenting Jain philosophy as a coherent scientific system. By framing Jain doctrine through four concise axioms and relating it to modern physics and logic, the book bridges the gap between ancient tradition and contemporary science. The reviewer praises Mardia’s clarity and his avoidance of unnecessary jargon, noting that the work will be valuable both to Jains seeking to understand their heritage and to non‑Jains interested in rational spirituality. The review recommends the book as an important resource for anyone interested in the scientific basis of Jainism.