Jain Journal 1978 01

SR No.: 520049
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 1978
Total Pages: 36
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 2 MB

Page 7

JANUARY, 1978
rendered an importent role in Jaina cosmography and Jaina astronomical notions were strictly interwoven with it. Jainas had perhaps for some mysterious calculations a strange theory of two Suns, two Moons, two sets of Naksatras (asterisms) and two sets of Stars which were assumed to move in circles round the mount Meru placed at the centre of Jambudvipa, the central island of flat earth made up of concentric rings of land masses alternatively surrounded by ocean rings13. Evidently such a Meru seems to possess some polar characteristics.
Besides, it is worth mentioning here that Kedar Nath Prabhakar11 is of opinion that Kutubminar (Arabic synonym of the mount Meru) in Delhi had been constructed on the pattern of Meru in such a way that 1000 yojanas were equivalent of one yard (see fig. No. 1). It is to be noted that the dimensions of Kutubminar might have been chosen as such but still more investigations are to be made in this direction. We will come to this point later.
(b) Dimensions of the Mount Meru :
Generally there is unanimity among scholars in attributing to Meru a fabulous size and height 15. However, Aryabhatta16 (Aryabhaṭṭiyam 4.11) has mentioned the diameter of Meru, as one yojana. Purāņas, however, make it 80,000 or 86,000 yojanas high etc.17 A descriptive record of dimensions of the mount Meru is found in Jambudvipa Prajñapti, 5th Upanga (sub-limb) of Jaina canon. JP, IV.113 states :
णवणउति जोयण सहस्साइं उद्धं उच्चतेणं
एगं जोयणसहस्स उब्वेहेणं,
मूले दसजोअणसहस्साइं णवई च जोअणई दस य एगरसभाए जो प्रणस्स विक्खभेणं,
धरणिअले * दस जोअणलहस्साइं विक्खभेणं,
तयणंतरं च णं मायाए मायाए परिहायमाणे - परिहायमाणे उवरितले एगं जोअणसहस्सं विक्खंभेणं ।
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13 Bose, D. M., Sen, S. N. and Subarayappa, B. V. (1971) A Concise History of Science in India, p. 80
14 Prabhakara, Kedar Nath (editor) (1974) Varaha Mihira Memorial Volume
(in Hindi), pp. 142-145.
15 See f.n. No. 3.
16 Cf. Aryabhattiyam, Gitika 4, verse 11.
17 See f.n. No. 9.
*The word 'dharaniale' termed as 'flat earth' also denotes a standard reference plane.