Jain Journal 1969 01

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

Page 39

JANUARY, 1969
133
Airavatavarsa the Rakta in the east, the Raktoda in the west and northward into Hairanyavatavarsa, the Suvarnakula. From the remaining lakes spring two rivers each to flow southward and northward. All these fall into the Lavana Samudra. Each of the two rivers in Bharatavarsa and Airavatavarsa has five tributaries Thus the tributaries of the Ganga are the Yamuna, the Sarayu, the Adi, the Kosi and the Mahi and those of the Sindhu are the Satadru, the Vitasta, the Vipasa, the Iravati and the Candrabhaga. The Sita and the Sitoda rivers in Mahavideha have three tributaries each which spring from lakes on the slopes of the southern and northern world-mountains. On the slopes of Mount Meru we have four forests.
Of the world-mountains, Himavana and Sikhari extend beyond the land into the Lavana Samudra in both directions. On these projections we have fourteen Antardvipas totalling fifty-six. Strangely shaped beings live in these Antardyipas.
According to Schubring, the conception of the circular-shaped Jambu-dvipa is obviously due to that segment of Bharatavarsa which is the Indian Peninsula while the conception of the Antardyipas goe to an ancient knowledge of Indo-China and Malacca Peninsula which was systematically enlarged later on. Whatever that may be the most interesting thing about this ancient notion is that it seeks to establish a nice symmetry in the whole geographical structure. The names of Haimavatavarsa and Hairanyavatayarsa seem to signify the existence of gold in these kşetras.
The Jambu-dvipa is surrounded on all sides by an enclosure with numerous window-like openings. In the four main directions the enclosure is breached by a gate each. The rivers Sita and Sitoda fall into the eastern and western gates, since they form the entrance leading to the Lavana Samudra.
In Dhatakikhanda, the number of Merus, kşetras and worldmountains are twice that of Jambu-dvipa. In Puskara-dvipa the number of Merus, kşetras and world-mountains are the same as that of Dhatakikhanda. On this island, the Manusottara-parvata demarcates the end of human habitation. It is situated in the centre of the island dividing the island into two equal parts. Thus the abode of human beings are these two and half islands. Beyond the Manusottara-parvata there is no time nor the atmospheric phenomena of lightning, thunder, rain, fire, metals in the womb of the earth, lakes, etc
Of the thirty-five kşetras (7+14+14) of the two and half islands, only fifteen are karma-bhūmis, i.e. where Tirthankaras are born to preach