Acharya Shri Vijay Nandighoshsurishwarji, a learned and well-versed scholar of Jainism and Modern Science, is the founder of our institute.

Regarding his life history and contribution, Mr. Tushar Bhatt, Ex. Senior Editor of Times of India, Ahmedabad edition, wrote as under :

"In the spacious first floor hall at the Ambawadi Jain Upashraya, silence ruled, A few monks here and there, disciples of Acharya Suryodayasuriji, were seated on the floor, in front of small, reclining writing desks. There were only a couple of devotees around, whispering in order not to jar the peace. Outside, there was a steady drizzle and the afternoon was dragging on at a drowsy pace, as if reluctant to make way for the evening. The monks seemed totally obvious to the somnolence that the weather was casting on worldly mortals.

Dressed in the mandatory white cloth of a Jain monk, Muni Nandighoshvijayji was absorbed in writing. Several ruled, foolscap pages, filled with neat handwriting lay around. Next to him stood a rack filled with books for reference.

He was making notes on a subject that many might think unlikely topics to preoccupy celestial mind of monks: mathematics and pure physics, Einstein's theories, quantum leap. This is in addition to the routine chores of a monk.

If Tao of Physics can be acceptable, it is, perhaps, perfectly in order for a monk to undertake a reverse examination of science. Learning has been a time-honoured tradition among the Jain monks, as would be testified by the works done over centuries. Even today, new entrants to the order under any Acharya spend years, on Sanskrit, Prakrit and Agams and other literature. Acharya Suryodayasuriji himself has done a lot of work in researching and writing in these areas.

But 42-year- Nandighoshvijayji has charted almost a new course for nearly a decade-and-a-half now, exploring pure science and examining its compatibility with what has been observed, and remained buried to the common eye, in the Jain scriptures.

The Muni, with a frail body, topped by a head with receding hairline, face covered with deliberately uncared for beard that sprouts many grey strands, has a winsome smile, sparkling eyes and a scientific temper, He triggered a debate on serious and profound topics in mathematics and physics by delving into Jain Agamshastras and examining the modern theories vis-à-vis them, and brought out a book, Jainism: Through Science both in English and Gujarati, containing articles on what he has studied, observed and compared ancient writings with the modern thought in these complex areas.

Nandighoshvijay, who received vows in the year 1974, was known as Nirmalkumar Nagindas Shah in his previous identity, and was a keen student of science and mathematics. After eight years of his monkhood mastering Sanskrit and Prakrit to be able to study the scriptures, he took to empirical examination of the scientific concepts expounded in the Jain scriptures and the modern day scientific thoughts.

The scriptures, he said, were 2500 years old, and were preserved in oral traditions for a thousand years before being put on palm leaves.

He does not find anything odd in what he is doing. He is not a dogmatic person, out to prove something with a fanatic finality; he has triggered a rational debate.

His articles in the book discuss a host of intricate issues such as concept of time and its units, origin and development of the universe, Darwin's theory of evolution, units of time and their relativity, the atomic theory of construction of material objects and energy, the corpuscular theory and the wave theory of light.

The basic scientific introduction to each topic has been followed up with a detailed discussion according to the Jain philosophical tradition. Dr P. C. Vaidya, a mathematics don of renown, has noted that "after awakening interest in both traditions, the Muni attempt to compare them."

Dr Vaidya went on the observe, " The results of the comparison of these different traditions will hardly be acceptable to all. Muni Nandighoshvijayji, who makes the comparison, is proficient in the reflective philosophical tradition. If the reader, like me, is a lover of empirical tradition, may not fully accept the conclusions, but that does not at all diminish the importance of these writings."

What Muni Nandighoshvijayji has done is to set out various themes that indicate that Jain concept of science, accord well with the modern science. The Jain concept of science is qualitative as expounded by Tirthankaras while modern science is very much quantitative, as has been noted by Prof. Kanti V. Mardia, who holds the chair in Applied Statistics and is director of Center of Medical Imaging Research at the University of Leeds in England.

Normally, philosophy and religion on one hand, and science, on the other, belong to different fields since philosophy is based on thinking and reflection and science, on experience. But Albert Einstein himself noted in 1940 that both sides were not totally incompatible.

Einstein wrote in an article, Science & Religion, in Nature magazine 57 years ago that Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind. Science is the attempt at the posterior reconstruction of existence by the process of conceptualization.
The task is ambitious. For instance, an article in the book, on some shortcomings of the theory of special relativity according to Jainology, the Muni has made an attempt to point up drawbacks in Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity (STR) by putting forth arguments derived from the interpretation of Jain philosophy, with support from the hypothesis on the existence of "tachyons" which are currently postulated to have a velocity higher than light.

Einstein's theory is being challenged by many scientists too, but, as Mr. P. Tewari, an officer of the Atomic Energy Commission's Nuclear Power Board, has noted that the reasons for the refutation by others were more profound and subtler than what was put forth in the Muni's paper.

Nandighoshvijayji himself says "Since I am a Jain Muni, there are many limitations regarding practical work, I have not tested the (scientific) principles in Jain Philosophical treatises, practically. I arrived at the conclusions on the basis of natural phenomena and social experience. ..... The research papers are only theoretical."

Nevertheless, he thinks that since many scientific principles lay hidden in ancient Jain treatises, it is very necessary to represent these in the modern world. Acknowledging that this was too tall an order for a single individual, he feels that science has not discovered the complete truth yet. Eventually, in pure sciences such as mathematics, conceptualization played an important role.
The immediately perceptible merits or otherwise apart, Muni Nandighoshvijay appears to be set on a lifetime course of comparative studies of scripture and science. What he inscribed on a copy of his book summed up his motto: " Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do."

After the publication of "Scientific Secrets of Jainism" a Gujarati text, Mrs. Avantika Gunavant Shah writes in the Sunday supplement of Janmabhumi - Prawasi, a daily newspaper, Bombay as under:

"Is it possible that a Jain monk writes articles not only on modern science but also publishes a well-versed book with critical and comparative studies of Jain philosophy and modern science?

Generally, all believe that Jain monks know Sanskrit, Prakrit languages. They study Sanskrit grammar, Jain scriptures moreover a learned Jain monk critically edits the Jain scriptures from ancient manuscripts. But Muni Shri Nandighoshvijayji criticizes the various principles of modern science, especially those related with physics and astrophysics e.g. Special Theory of Relativity, Einstein's famous equation E=mc², Quantum Mechanics, Doppler's Effect, Interference of Light and Black Holes according to Jain philosophical concepts.

On 26th August 1955 Muniji was born at Vejalpur near Godhra. His father was a merchant and when he was a child, his father expired. His elder brother Mr. Bhupeshchandra is a teacher in Vejalpur High School. During the year 1974 he was in Pre. Science class at V.P. Science College in Vallabha Vidyanagar. At that time, the movement of Nav-Nirman sprouted and he was initiated on 5th May 1974 (Vaishakha Sudi-14) at age of 18 years. His elder sister Jain nun Shri Vinitaprajnashriji, who was initiated eight years ago, inspired him to take initiation.

In monkhood after reading about Einstein's Relativity in the Science Magazine 'Scope', his interest in relativity further developed profoundly. He got books from the library of Royal Asiatic Society, Bombay and studied relativity. After coming to Ahmedabad he got guidance from the world famous scientist Dr P. C. Vaidya, Dr Narendra Bhandari (PRL, Ahmedabad) and Prof. H. F. Shah (Head, Department of Physics, St. Xavier's College, Ahmedabad) and others.

Muniji has written various articles regarding the Jain philosophy and Modern Science in various magazines like Navneet-Samparpan, (a Gujarati Magazine), Tirthankar (a Hindi Magazine), Jain Journal (A quarterly on Jainology), Tulasi-phrajna, Arhat-vacana etc,

Muniji also gave a lecture on 'Jain philosophy and Quantum Mechanics' at Gujarat Vidyapith, Ahmedabad on 7th October 1998.

Shri Mahavir Jaina Vidyalaya, Bombay has published his Gujarati, Hindi and English articles in the form of book - "Jainism : Through Science", 1995.

We have recently published the revised and enlarged edition of the same book, entitled "Scientific Secrets of Jainism" in Gujarati as well as in English. Open book exam of the same book in Gujarati version also successfully conducted by our institute throughout Gujarat state in the year 2000. Both the books are his unique contributions to Jains and non-Jains alike. A well-known, proficient and prominent scientist like Dr P. C. Vaidya, Dr J. V. Narlikar, (Director & Homi Bhabha Professor, Inter-University Center for Astronomy & Astrophysics, Pune-4) and Dr Narendra Bhandari (Chairman & Senior Scientist, Earth Science & Solar System PRL, Ahmedabad-9) have written the preface and comments on the same book.

Prof. K. V. Mardia (Director, Center of Medical Imaging Research and Head, Department of Statistics, University of Leeds, Leeds, U. K.) has also appreciated his timely contribution giving contribution for his research work.

He got the highest respected title of "ACHARYA" (Acharya Padvi) in the Jain Community in the year of 2008 at Daulatnagar-Mumbai by the hands of Acharya Shri Vijay HemachandraSuriji. On this occasion his second edition in gujarati and english entitled "Aura:A theoretical and pratical research " will prove to be one step forward in the practical applications of the theoretical research of the ancient Jain philosophical principles.

American Biographical Institute Inc., Raleigh, North Carolina, (USA) selected him for the Distinguished Leadership Award and the Hall of Fame Award in 1998. But Muniji did not accept such honor due to the limitations of monkhood.

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