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COSMOLOGY OLD AND NEW
division between the finite universe and the infinite space beyond would disappear. It is interesting to note that if we regard our universe as infinite, it cannot be stable at the same time, for in that case all our energy would get scattered into the infinity of space and the attractions of myriads of other universes filling the infinite universe on our universe would scatter it into infinity. In order, therefore, to maintain the stability of our universe running fro, an infinite past into an infinite future the universe must be cnvceived as of finite dimensions so that when the energy travelling with the velocity of light. 1,86,000 miles/sec., reaches the confines of the universe it gets reflected and is not lost. The total energy of the universe will in this case remain constant. Einstein introduced this idea of finite universe by making the odd postulate that space gets warped under the stress of matter. The idea of the space becoming curved due to the presence of matter and thus closing in to form a finite universe is a hard pill to swallow. Jainas also regard the universe as finite 367 but the case of this finiteness is more easy to comprehend. According to Jainas view there are no media of motion and rest beyond a certain limit called the loka and consequently matter or energy can never get out of this limit with the result that the total energy of the universe remains constant throughout eternity. The pure mathematical space extending to infinite beyond without the presence of any grain of matter or time is called the aloka.
As we have already remarked the modern scientific equivalent of the 'medium of rest' is the Field through which the forces which maintain the cosmic unity operate. Without this medium there would be no coherent system of souls and atoms, there would be only chaos no world would be possible. The Field is similar to aether in so much as it is also a non-material, invisible, non-atomic, continuous and passive medium but its function is just opposite. These two media interpenetrate in every bit of the universe and do not interfere with the functions of each other. It is a case similar to that of the co-existence of electrostatic, magnetostatic and gravitational fields, which, although of different character, do not mix; each preserves its
367. The volume of the universe, according to Jainas,is 343 cu. Rajjus, a Rajju being a quantity of the order 102 miles. (See pages 89-90 The use of the word Brahmanda (univrse of the ellipsoidal form) by Hindus for the universe is also suggestive of the finitude of the latter.
