Mananam

Finite musings on infinity by Eashwar Thiagarajan   Abstract: This essay briefly starts with reflection upon the notion of Mathematical infinity in west and in India. Mathematical intuition of infinity in any era, is shaped by the dominant philosophical discourse on infinity. A case-in-point would be the influence of Brahmavāda (ontology of  Advaita Vedanta) on Bhaskara-II’s articulation and mathematical intuition of infinity. The essay briefly compares the Vedantic view of infinity or Brahman with the Mathematical notion of infinity (stated earlier in the essay), before it concludes with scope for further studies I: Western notion of Mathematical Infinity The word infinity brings to our mind a notion of vastness in quantity, as in something that stretches beyond our known comprehension of measurement. Figure 1 shows the linguistic roots of the English word from oxford languages.   Figure1: Linguistic roots of the word infinity (Google

  Sri Suka Brahmam's Stuthi to Sri Hari, prior to launching into Bhagavat Katha Sravanam śrīśuka uvāca nama ḥ parasmai puru ṣ āya bhūyase sad udbhava sthāna nirodha līlayā g ṛ hīta śakti tritayāya dehinām antar-bhavāyānupalak ṣ ya vartmane – 2.4.12 Salute to the Perfect Man of infinite power who by his sport of creating, sustaining and destroying this world, has assumed three powers, viz. Rajas (Brahma) etc. bhūyo nama ḥ sadv ṛ jina cchide 'satām asambhavāya akhila sattva mūrtaye pu ṁ sā ṁ puna ḥ pāramaha ṁ sya āśrame vyavasthitānām anum ṛ gya dāśu ṣ e– 2.4.13 I offer my salutations again and again to him who removes the afflictions of the good, who curbs down the growth of the irreligious, who orders all devatas of (akhila sattva mūrtaye ) of Sattvic body to bestow fruits (upon the devotees), and who confers the knowledge of the self upon paramahamsas. namo namaste 'stv ṛṣ abhāya sātvatā ṁ vidūrakā ṣṭ hāya muhu ḥ kuyoginām nirasta sāmyātiśayena rādhasā svadhām