Atma the Self

Author(s): Punyadarshanvijay
Publisher: Sanmarg Prakashan

Page 35

.... ĀTMĀ
The Self....
The Cosmos:
The Cosmos is divided in three sections, 'Adho lōka' (lower) 'Urdhva lõka, (upper) and 'Tircchālāka' (central) with four 'Gati' (existence) :
1) Tiryanca Gati = Animal/Vegetation life. 2) Naraka Gati = Hellish beings. 3) Dēva Gati = Heavenly beings, Angels. 4) Manuşya Gati = Human beings. 1) Tiryanca Gati = Lower forms and sub-human beings, consists
of Sūkşma, (invisible) in the entire universe and Bādara (visible)
and others in specific places. 2) Naraka Gati - Infernal beings in the Adhölöka; lower division
of cosmos (except the upper layer of nether regions for Bhavanapati - Vyantara - the lower celestials) consists of seven successive descending subterranean regions, the seven Hells
with numerous sub-divisions. 3) Dēva Gati : Celestial beings are in the Ordhva loka. (Jyotisa
and Vaimanik celestials are in the upper division of the cosmos which consists of several Heavenly Abodes, one above the other with numerous sub-sections. Bhavanpati and Vyantar
celestials are in the nether regions i.e. Adholoka. 4) Manuşya Gati : Human beings. In the Tircchālāka; the centre of
the Cosmos consists of innumerable worlds and oceans each encircling the other, doubling in size, stationary and moving suns, moons, stars, planets, etc. The Manuşyaloka is limited to only two and half (2 1/2) Dvipa- worlds in the centre of Tircchālāka with moving suns and moons etc. (Our earth forms a small portion in the southern part of 'Jambūdvipa' (refer chart) - the centre world.
Jambūdvipa-Central World The Central region of Cosmos is one rajju in diameter and consists of innumerable dvipas (Worlds) and oceans each doubling in size, and encircling one-another. Human existence, a total of 29 digits is only in the first 21/2 worlds namely Jambūdvipa, Dhātakikhanda and Puşkarāvarta dvipa (half) and it is infinitesimal compared to infinite living beings in the Cosmos.
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