Jain Journal 1968 10

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

Page 44

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very wide; to their sides where these are ring-shaped, they are quite thin. Of the regions, only the top-most the Ratnaprabha, has three portions or kändas, with dominance of jewels, mud and water and a portion of this region falls in the central sphere; for here the line of demarcation becomes very thin.
The regions are determined in respect of their depths only, not widths. Apparently the width increases as one descends the regions and correspondingly the depth decreases from 180,000 yojanas in the Ratnaprabha to 108,000 yojanas in the Mahatamahprabha while the number of hells 8.4 million in all, descend in from 3 million in the first region to 300,000 in the fifth, 99,995 in the Tamahprabha and only 5 in the Mahatamahprabha. Incidentally, the Jaina measures of distance are indicated in the table below:
6 angulas 2 pādas
2 vitastis
JAIN JOURNAL
2 hastas
2 kukşis
2000 dhanus
4 kosas
1 pāda
1 vitasti
1 hasta
1 kukşi
1 dhanu
1 kosa
1 yojana
According to the older view, the denigens of the hells are humans who suffer punishments in certain allotted places in the hells, in the rivers and on the Veyaliya Mountain. Later views, however, consider these denigens as distinct species, different from humans, who are called neraiyas, who are black and ghastly, sexless, emitting a smell of decay and causing pain when being touched. The neraiyas vary greatly in size, are in constant suffering from hunger and thirst, from heat and cold, and live in mutual suspicion and dread. These torments increase at increasing depths where the neraiyas are assigned for greater and still greater wrongs. In the uppermost regions, particularly round about the Ratnaprabha region, a part of which merges in the Central Sphere, some species of gods reside, called the bhavanavāsī and the vanamantara. Of the former are mentioned ten species each distinct from the other, all characterised by youthful appearance and all being male in sex. Their colours and emblems, however, vary. The vanamantara gods provide the link with the Central Sphere. Their seats are partly subterranean, partly in the graves, in the so-called long Veyadoha hills and on the intermediate continents. These range between humans and star-gods of the Central Sphere and consist of popular spirits, ghosts, demons, etc. They are described mostly to be of dark-shed and pleasing appearance but about their activities and numerical strength we know