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## The Nature of the Universe
**This section discusses the structure of the universe according to Jain cosmology.**
**The Earth and its Surroundings:**
* The Earth is surrounded by three concentric rings: **Ghano-dhadhi** (dense air), **Ghanavat** (thick air), and **Tanuvat** (thin air).
* The **Ghano-dhadhi** is 20,000 yojanas thick, the **Ghanavat** is countless yojanas thick, and the **Tanuvat** is countless yojanas thicker than the **Ghanavat**.
* Beyond the **Tanuvat** lies the **Aakash** (space), which is countless thousands of yojanas thick.
* The thickness of these rings decreases gradually towards the outer edges, like the rings of a tree.
* The **Ghano-dhadhi** ring of the **Ratna-prabha** (a hell) is 6 yojanas wide, the **Ghanavat** ring is 4 yojanas wide, and the **Tanuvat** ring is 1 yojana wide.
* The **Ghano-dhadhi** ring of the **Ratna-prabha** has a thickness of one-third of a yojana, the **Ghanavat** ring has a thickness of one kos, and the **Tanuvat** ring has a thickness of one-third of a kos.
* The **Sharka-prabha** (another hell) has a similar structure, with the rings decreasing in size as they move upwards.
* The same pattern continues for the seven hells, with the rings decreasing in size as they move upwards.
* The first ring of the **Ghamma** (a hell) is one-third of a kos long, the second ring is one gao-kos long, and the last ring is one-third of a kos long.
* The rings of the **Vansha** (a hell) are 6 1/3 yojanas wide, 4 1/3 yojanas wide, and 10 1/3 yojanas wide respectively.
* The **Vansha** (a hell) is 122 1/3 yojanas wide, and beyond that lies the **Alok** (a region of darkness).
* The **Shaila** (a hell) is 6 yojanas wide, 52 1/3 yojanas wide, and 12 1/3 yojanas wide respectively.
* The **Shaila** (a hell) is 13 1/3 yojanas wide, and beyond that lies the **Alok** (a region of darkness).
* The **Pank-prabha** (a hell) is 7 yojanas wide, 52 1/3 yojanas wide, and 1 1/3 yojanas wide respectively.
* The **Pank-prabha** (a hell) is 14 yojanas wide, and beyond that lies the **Alok** (a region of darkness).
* The **Dhum-prabha** (a hell) is 7 1/3 yojanas wide, 52 1/3 yojanas wide, and 15 1/3 yojanas wide respectively.
* The **Dhum-prabha** (a hell) is 142 1/3 yojanas wide, and beyond that lies the **Alok** (a region of darkness).
* The **Tama-prabha** (a hell) is 72 1/3 yojanas wide, 52 1/3 yojanas wide, and 19 1/3 yojanas wide respectively.
* The **Maha-tama-prabha** (a hell) is 8 yojanas wide, 6 yojanas wide, and 2 yojanas wide respectively.
* The **Maha-tama-prabha** (a hell) is 16 yojanas wide, and beyond that lies the **Alok** (a region of darkness).
* The height of the Earth is equal to the width of the three rings (**Ghano-dhadhi**, **Ghanavat**, and **Tanuvat**) that surround it.
**The Shape of the Universe:**
* The universe is shaped like a **Vetrasana** (a type of seat) at the bottom, with a wider base and a narrower top.
* The middle part of the universe is shaped like a **Jhallari** (a type of musical instrument), and the top part is shaped like a **Mridanga** (a type of drum).
* The universe is made up of three parts: **Adho-lok** (lower world), **Tirya-g-lok** (intermediate world), and **Urddhva-lok** (upper world).
* The **Adho-lok** is shaped like an inverted **Sakora** (a type of vessel), the **Tirya-g-lok** is shaped like a **Thali** (a type of plate), and the **Urddhva-lok** is shaped like an upright **Mridanga** (a type of drum).
**Note:** The terms **yojana** and **kos** are units of measurement in ancient India.