Jain Journal 1984 01

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

Page 11

84
1. Solar Mandalas (Sun's Diurnal Circles):
(i) Number of Solar Mandalas:
As regards the number of solar mandalas, Jambudvipa prajñapti (=JP) 7.2 states as :
"There are 65 solar mandalas stretched over 180 Yojanas of Jambudvipa (isle of Jambu tree) and 119 solar mandalas stretched over 330 Yojanas of the Lavanasamudra (salt ocean). In all there are 184 solar mandalas in both Jambudvipa and Lavanasamudra."
Evidently the entire stretch of 184 solar mandalas, measured in Yojanas, is computed as the sum of their respective stretches over Jambudvipa and Lavanasamudra.
Total stretch of the solar mandalas
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(ii) Linkage of Solar Mandalas (Sun's Diurnal Circles) with Sun's Annual Course :
=
The mode of linking solar mandalas with Sun's annual course is depicted in Surya Prajñapti (=SP). SP.1.1.4-5 states as:
=
"When the Sun treading upon mandala to mandala, moves from the innermost mandala (Sun's diurnal circle on Summer solstice day) upto the outermost mandala (Sun's diurnal circle on Winter solstice day) and from the outermost mandala to the innermost mandala, how much time in days and nights is required?
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• Yojana is a linear measure of length. Its magnitude had been changing from time to time and place to place. For example, according to Anuyogadvara Sutra (ADS) different types of yojanas are related as; 1 pramana yojana
=
500 Atma yojana 1000 Utsedha yojana
500
180+330 510 Yojanas.
we have denoted ‘atma yojana' (ADS units) by 'y' (yojana) and 'Y' (Yojana) denotes the measure of length as implied in Tiloya Pannatti (TP). We have exposed that
1 Y(TP unit)
8
-y (ADS unit)
-6.37 miles (British road distances)
For more details, see our paper "The Evolution of Measures in Jaina Astronomy', Tirthankar, Vol. 1, No. 7-12, pp. 83-92 (Indore). See also our paper 'Length Units in Jaina Astronomy', Jain Journal, Vol. 13, No. 4, pp. 143-154.