Here is a simple, Jain Dharma-centered overview of Jain mathematics (mathematics in Jain thought) and cosmology (the Jain view of the universe).

Jain cosmology (the structure of the universe)

• The universe is beginningless and has no creator. It is vast but finite in form and is made of living souls (jiva) and non-living matter (pudgala).
• Loka (world) is divided into three main realms:

- Urdhvarth: the upper world (heavens) where gods live. - Madhya: the middle world (humans and many beings). - Adho: the lower world (various hells and other beings).

• The center has Mount Meru, surrounded by continents. The most famous continent is Jambudvipa, with many other lands around it.
• Time is cyclical. There are two halves of a great time cycle:

- utsarpini (ascending half): spiritual and material conditions gradually improve. - avasarpini (descending half): conditions gradually decline. The cycle continues without a beginning or end.

• The soul (jiva) travels through births and deaths governed by karma. Liberation (moksha) comes from right knowledge, right perception, and right conduct.
• The karmic universe includes many beings of various forms and sizes; progress is gained by non-violence (ahimsa), truth, and disciplined conduct.

Jain mathematics and its relation to cosmology

• In Jain thought, mathematics serves to describe and measure the cosmos with precision, especially for astronomy, calendrics, and spatial descriptions of the cosmos (loka). The aim is accurate understanding, not mere speculation.
• There is emphasis on exact counting, measurements, and classifications of beings and realms, which helps in describing the structure of the universe (for example, the positions of meru, continents, and the perceptible divisions of space within the cosmological map).
• Jain scholars used systematic methods for astronomical calculations and calendar-keeping to track cosmic eras, auspicious times, and rituals. This includes orderly numeric schemes and careful rational reasoning to determine auspicious days, planetary alignments, and cosmic cycles.
• The mathematical approach in Jain texts is tightly bound to ethical and spiritual aims: to know the universe correctly so one can live righteously and advance on the path to liberation.
• Important note: Jain cosmology and its numerical descriptions are presented within a spiritual framework. They are not a modern scientific treatise; they are a religious-dharmic map of the cosmos, meant to support right conduct and spiritual progress.

Different Jain traditions

• Digambara and Śvetāmbara scholastic traditions sometimes emphasize different sutras, metaphors, or emphases in cosmology and numerology. The core cosmological ideas—loka, Mount Meru, the triworld structure, and cyclical time—are shared, but there can be variations in explanation or emphasis across traditions.

If you’d like, I can:

• Provide a concise list of key Jain terms (with brief meanings) used in cosmology and their roles.
• Give a short excerpt (in transliteration and translation) from a Jain text that discusses cosmology.
• Point you to a Jain Knowledge page that specializes in Jain cosmology or Jain mathematics for deeper study (with the exact page title, once I can check availability).

Would you like a brief glossary of essential Jain cosmology terms, or a short excerpt from a Jain sutra/stotra with its meaning?