Jaina Philosophy Historical Outline

Author(s): Narendra Nath Bhattacharya
Publisher: Munshiram Manoharlal Publisher's Pvt Ltd New Delhi

Page 164

The Sophisticated Stage 143 Kaņakāvali, Kaņakāvalivara, Kaņakāvalivarāvabhāsa, Ratnāvali, Ratnāvalivara, Ratnavalivarāvabhāsa, Mukutāvali, Mukutāvalivara, Mukutavalivarāvabhāsa, Ajina, Ājinavara, Ājinavarāvabhāsa, Sürya, Śūryavara, Süryavarāvabhāsa, Deva, Naga, Yakșa, Bhūta, Svayambhūramana and so on. Note, how the number of the island continents is arbitrarily increased by suffixing the expressions vara and varāvabhāsa.
The central contient Jambudvipa covers half of the continental ring. Its diameter is 100,000 yojanas and its total area 316,227 yojanas, 3 gavyutas, 128 dhanus and near 14 angulas. It is surrounded by some sort of wall, 8 yojanas in height. At the base it is 12 yojanas wide and at the pinnacle it is four. It is built by stone slabs, each 1 yojana in height, and 506 dhanus in breadth. This pillar is made by precious articles. The base is made of diamond, the supports of Rişța, the beams of gold bars, and the bolts of rubies. Beyond this pillar, is situated the paradise garden, so large and beautiful that only Indra can think of it. The wall has four gates, Vijaya, Vaijayanta, Jayana and Aparājita the first gate being in the east. The gates are all square, 8 yojanas in height, width and length respectively. The eastern gate Vijaya is at the mouth of the river Šītā, while Jayanta, the western, at the mouth of the Sitodā. Each gate is protected by a semi-divine being.
The entire Jambudvipa is divided by six mountains from which are created seven unequal divisions or zones. The mountains are called Varșaparvata or Kulaparvata, the designating terms being surely adopted from the Brahmanical Purāņas. The land divisions, thus created out of the mountains, are called Varşa or Kșetra. The names of the mountains, stretching from south to north, are Himavat, Sikharin, Mahähimavat, Rukmin, Nişadha and Nīla. The Himavat and the Sikharin are made of gold, the Mahāhimayat and the Rukmin of silver, and Nişadha and Nila of beryle. The breadth and height of these mountains are calculated having taken the southernmost zone or Varşa as the measuring unit. The measurements are given in details in the Jambuddivapannatti and in the Trailokyadipikā. The southermost Varşa or zone being the first, the second is its double, the third redouble and so on. The height of the Himavat being 100 Yojanas, that of other mountains should be calculated according to the same process.
1Kirfel, KI, pp. 253-61.