Jain Journal 1968 10

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 42

86
the lower, the central and the upper with a bed to rest on (paliyanka), a thunderbolt (vara-vaira) and an upright standing drum (uddha-mrianga). In another model, the lower and central sections are likened to a couch (tappa) and a cymbal (jhallari) and in still another the whole is compared with a broad-bottomed vessel (supaitthaga). In all these models, the horizontal cross-section is indicated to be circular. A Svetambara source, Lokaprakāśa, imagined the world as three pyramids, one upon the other, each having a square base and rising in steps on all sides, the central pyramid standing on its top surface. In contrast, the description given by the Digambaras show three roof-like bodies of the same unchanging length but of a steadily de-increasing width. Different measures are given of different sections and these in fact dominate most the non-canonical texts but we have no interest to record these controversies, our primary interest being in the shapes envisaged. According to one non-canonical conception, the world is a loka-purușa, i.e., it has the appearance of the human male. (see frontispiece)
JAIN JOURNAL
The Jaina models of the ordered system of the spheres contain detailed accounts about their denigens. These accounts are not only detailed but also systematic, starting with the inhabitants of the hells beneath, followed by those appertaining to the classes of demi-gods at the uppermost stage of the lower sphere, followed by the pre-stages of animals, their lower species, followed by higher and more developed animals, reaching ultimately to human beings, and then the gods of diverse status depending on their spiritual progress residing at different layers of the upper sphere rising ultimately to the siddhas or the liberated at the top-most stage, where the loka comes to an end.
9. Jaina view of the Lower Sphere (ahe-loga or adho-loka)
Starting with the Jaina view of the adho-loka, they have conceived seven regions in the lower world having in the aggregate the appearance of a wine-cup turned upside down. (cf. the seven hells of the Hindus) In descending order, their names are Rayanappabha or Ratnaprabha, Sakkarappabha or Sarkaraprabha, Valuyappabha or Valukaprabha, Pankappabha or Pankaprabha, Dhumappabha or Dhumaprabha, Tamappabha or Tamahprabha and Ahesattama or Mahatamahprabha. The Jainas has called these as bhumis or regions. In between one region and another there are spaces of unmeasured dimensions and a similar space separates the Mahatamahprabha from aloka or non-world. Each region again is enveloped by hulls which in succession consist of viscous water (ghanodadhi), viscous wind (ghanavāta) and light wind (tanu-vāta). Below each region these hulls are