Source Book in Jaina Philosophy

SR No.: 001263
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Devendramuni
Publisher: Tarak Guru Jain Granthalay
Publication Year: 1983
Total Pages: 590
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & Philosophy
File Size: 10 MB

Page 60

A SOURCE-BOOK IN JAINA PHILOSOPHY
39
LOKA AND ALOKA (UNIVERSE AND THE BEYOND) H. 3
The Universe (Loka) is bounded and limited, while Aloka, the limitless ākāśa, is unbounded. It has no boundaries. Lokākāśa (bounded space) has innumerable pradesas (asankhyeya pradesa) while the boundless space has infinite pradesas. The universe consists of 14 rajjus, but Aloka (limitless space) cannot be measured at all. In the Bhagavati we get a dialogue between Bhagavan Mahāvīra and Arya Skandaka. Bhagavan Mahāvīra said, "The universe is limited with reference to the aspect of matter and also with reference to the measurable space, because the universe occupies a limited portion of space. From the point of view of time, Kala, the universe is endless and eternal because there is no point of time in which the universe does not exist. From the point of view of essence (bhava) and modes (paryaya) the universe is endless, because the modes of substance are endless.1
The great scientist Albert Einstein has given a picture of the four dimensional reality of space and time which comes nearer to the Jaina description of space and time. He says that the universe is limited while the limitless space is unbounded. The universe is limited because matter and energy do not exist beyond the universe. They have no relevance beyond the universe:
THE LOCATION OF THE UNIVERSE AND THE BEYOND 193 (LOKA AND ALOKA)
The universe is flat at the bottom (vist ṛta), narrow in the middle and globular on the top like the form of musical instrument 'mṛdanga'. Of the three parts one is curved, the second is straight and the third is placed on the top so as to give a shape of a 'mṛdanga'. It is said to be of the shape of trisarāva samputa'. In other words, It is difficult to give the the shape of the universe is well defined. shape of the Aloka although it is sometimes suggested that it is It is one. Lokākāśa has globular in shape. Aloka has no parts. been divided into three parts-(1) the Lower Universe (Adholoka), (2) the Middle Universe (madhyaloka) and (3) the Upper Universe (Urdhvaloka). The universe in all the three parts measures 14 rajjūs in length i. e., from the lowest point to the uppermost point. The
1 Bhagavati i 2. 1, 90. 2 Bhagavati 11, 10.