Astronomy and Cosmology

Author(s): L C Jain
Publisher: Rajasthan Prakrit Bharti Sansthan Jaipur

Page 36

Radius of the universe =(1068 million) (light years)
=( 1068 x 106) (5.88 x 1012 miles) Volume of the spherical universe ( by formula 1713)
= $(1068 x 106 x 5.88 x 1012) 3 cu. miles
= 1037 x 1063 cu. miles -(A) The volume of the loka = 343 cu, rajjus --(B) Equating (A) and (B), one gets
One rajju = 1,45 x 1021 miles -(E) From Svetāmbara measure, the volume=239 cu, rajjus - (C) Equating (A) and (C), one finds
One rajju = 1.63 x 1021 miles - (F) Now, Jain further takes the definition of a rajju according to Colebrook, as the distance which a deva (god) flies in six months at the rate of 2,057,152 yojanas in one kşaņa (instant).41 He takes a big yojana to be 4000 miles, hence the distance travelled in six months, or one rajju,
= 2057152 x 4000 X (6 months) miles. = 2057152 X 4000 x 6 x 30 x 24 x 60 x 54000 miles 42 = 1.15 x 1021 miles roughly. --(G)
The comparison between (F), (G) and (H) gives the evaluation of a rajju, subject to controversial points. The value of a yojana is to be discussed later in detail, as it carries a great historical importance. VOLUME OF UNIVERSE
Regarding the volume of universe, Muni Mahendra Kumar II agrees with the Digambara tradition, as the squared loka measure does not signify the cubic loka measure and hence the volume as 343 cubie rajjus is confirmed to be same in both traditions,43 Regarding the evaluation of the 41. Quoted by Von Glassnapp in “Der Jainismus" Berlin, 1925, 42, Taking an instant to be a prativipalā msa,, Jain finds 60 prativipalāmśas = 1 prati vipala,
60 prati vipalas = I vipala 60 vipalas
= 1 pala 60 palas
- 1 ghati = 24 minutes :: 1 minute = 54000 prativipalāmśa and so on, 43. Cf. Viśva Prahelikā, Bombay, (Hindi), 1969, pp. 93-101.
Cf. also Loka Prakāśa, ch. 12, vv. 110 to 115, by Vinaya Vijayagani, and also vv. 116 to 137, Pts I. II, Surat, 1932, Pt. IIT, Bhavnagar, 1933.
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