Gommatasara Jiva Kanda

Author(s): Nemichandra Siddhant Chakravarti, J L Jaini
Publisher: ZZZ Unknown

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Each one of these two, being either a Trunk, Creeper, Plant, Tree, or Root, there are 10 classes of these individual-souled-vegetables, so-called in contrast to common or group-souled vegetables. Bhoga-Bhumi (Enjoyment Region).
The Jaina conception of the Middle World is that it is entirely confined to the one Raju square of the layer of the Mobile Channel (Trasa Nadi), at a height of 7 Rajus from the base of the Universe.
This Middle World consists of concentric rings of successive Continents and Oceans. Each succeeding ring has a width double of the ring-width of its predecessor. In the centre of the Middle World there is the first Continent Jambudvipa, of a diameter of one lac (1,00,000) Yojanas. It has in its centre the Sumeru mountain, which has a height of 1,00,040 Yojanas, 40 Yojanas of which form the top, and 1,000 Yojanas of which are embedded in the earth as the sub terranean foundation of the Mountain, and which has a circular base of the diameter of 10,000 Yojanas.
The Ocean, Lavana, next to Jambúdvipa and encircling it all round is a ring with a width of 2 lac Yojanas. The next Dhátu ki Khanda, is a continent, a ring with a width of 4 lac Yojanas. The next Kálodadhi is the Second Ocean with a ring-width of 8 lac Yojanas. The next Pushkaravara Dvípa, is the third Continent with a ring-width or 16 lac Yojanas. And so on, till through innumerable Continents and Oceans we reach the last pair of rings, the the Svyambhú Ramana Ocean. This is the last ring of water holding our Middle World in its embrace.
It is to be noted that the third Continent Pushkara-Vara-Dvípa has a circular mountain bisecting it equally throughout the width of its ring. This mountain is called Mánushottara, Cis-human, as there are no human beings beyond its limits nor can any human beings go beyond its limits. Thus the human regions are a circle of 45 lacs of Yojanas, and comprise the first two oceans and the first two and a half Continents.
It is noticeable that in Jainism there are 5 regions, each with a diameter of 45 lacs of Yojnas.
(1) The above human region is called the 2 Dvipas.
(2) As Nirvána is attained only from the human regions, the Siddha Kshetra at the top of the Universe also is a region with a diameter of 45 lac Yojanas.
(3) So is Siddha Shilá, the earth below the Siddha Kshetra. (4) The first Indraka-Vimána or central celestial Car or residence, just one hair's breadth above the apex of Sumeru.