Jain Journal 1976 10

SR No.: 520044
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 1976
Total Pages: 44
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 3 MB

Page 3

Jaina Mithology
J. BURGESS
The mythology of the Jainas, whilst including many of the Hindu divinities, to which it accords very inferior positions, is altogether different in composition. It has all the appearance of a purely constructed system. The gods are classified and subdivided into orders, general and species ; all are mortal, have their ages fixed as well as their abodes and are mostly distinguished by cognizances, cinhas or lāñchanas. Their Tirthakaras, Tirthankaras, or perfected saints, are usually known as twenty-four belonging to the present age. But the mythology takes account also of a past and a future age, and to each of these aeons are assigned. But this is not all ; in their cosmogony they lay down other continents besides Jambudvipa-Bharata or that in which we dwell. These are separated from Jambudvipa by impassable seas, but exactly like it in every respect are continents called Dhatakikhanda and Puskararddha; and of each of these there are eastern and western Bharata and Airavata regions, whilst of Jambudvipa there is only a Bharata and an Airavata region. These make the following ten regions or worlds :
1. Jambudvipa Bharata-ksetra 2. Dhatakikhanda purva-Bharata 3. Dhatakikhanda pascima-Bharata 4. Puskararddha purva-Bharata 5. Puskararddha pascima-Bharata 6. Jambudvipa Airavata-ksetra 7. Dhatakikhanda purva-Airavata 8. Dhatakikhanda pascima-Airavata 9. Puskarardha purva-Airavata 10. Puskararddha pascima-Airavata
To each of these is alloted twenty-four past, present and future Jinas, making in all 720 of this class, for which they have invented names, but they are only names?.
Of the Tirthakaras of the present age or avasarpiņi in the Bharatavarsa of Jambudvipa, however, we are supplied with minute details :
1 See Ratnasagara, bh. II, pp. 696-705.