कुन्दकुन्द ज्ञानपीठ में संग्रहीत गणित एवं आयुर्वेद विषयक पांडुलिपियां

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.