Jaina Philosophy Historical Outline

SR No.: 006569
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Narendra Nath Bhattacharya
Publisher: Munshiram Manoharlal Publisher's Pvt Ltd New Delhi
Publication Year: 1976
Total Pages: 242
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 15 MB

Page 163

142 Jain Philosophy in Historical Outline
of the universe, but they are more or less similar.
Below the earth-disc are seven lower regions, containing millions of hells, one below the other. These are Ratnaprabhā, Sarkarāprabhā, Vālukāprabhā, Pankaprabhā, Dhumraprabhā, Tamaḥprabhā and Mahātamaḥprabhā. They are otherwise called Dharmā, Vaņšā, Sailā, Añjanā, Aristā, Mādhavyā and Madhavī. Above these seven regions is the disc of the earth with its numerous continents in concentric circles separated by rings of oceans. Above the earth are situated the heavenly regions styled Vimānas consisting of twelve kalpas, viz. Saudharma, Aiśāna, Sanatkumāra, Mahendra, Brahmaloka, Lantaka, Mahāśukra Sahasrāra, Anata, Pranata, Āraña and Acyuta, the nine graive yakas, i.e., the heavens forming the neck of the human shaped universe, and five anuttaras, viz., Vijaya, Vaijayanta Jayanta, Aparājita and Sarvārthasiddha. Thus there are 26 heavens placed one above the other. Above the highest heaven called Sarvārthasiddha is situated Ișatpragbhāra, the place which is the final resort of all the souls.
Above the seven lower regions containing millions of hells is the disc of the earth consisting of seven continents: Jambudvīpa, Dhātaki, Puşkara, Vāruņivara, Kșīravara, Ghịtavara and Kșudravara. These are surrounded respectively by seven oceans: Lavanoda, Kāloda, Puşkaroda, Varunyoda, Kșīroda, Ghịtoda and Kşaudroda. It appears that originally the Jain authors thought of only seven island cont nents, the number being gradually increased by later writers. The Tiloyapannatti: speaks of 16 inner and 16 outer islands forming the earth and each of them has an ocean beyond it. Besides the seven island continents mentioned above the following inner islands are mentioned in the said work: Nandiśvara, Arunavara, Aruņabhāsa, Kundalavara, Sankhavara, Rucakavara, Bhujagavara, Kuśavara and Krauñcavara. The last two names are borrowed from the Puranic lists. The 16 outer islands are Manaḥšilā, Haritāla, Sindura, śyāma, Añjahavara, Hingula, Rūpya, Kāñcanaka, Vajravara, Vaidurya, Nāgavara, Bhūtavara, Yakşavara, Devavara, Ahindravara, and Svayambhūramaņa. In later Jain works more names were added such as Aruņa, Arunavara, Arunavarāvabhāsa, Kundala, Kundalavara Kundalavarāvabhāsa, Sankha, Sankhavara, Sankhavarāvabhāsa, Rucaka, Rucakavara, Rucakavarāvabhāsa, Hara, Haravara, Haravarāvabhāsa,
1 Jacobi in ZDMG, LX. 2 Uttara, XXXVI, 57-62. SV, 11-16.