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The Universe -
The universal space, according to the Jaina reckoning is in the shape of a man standing with his feet apart and arms akimbo. As can be seen in the figure on the facing page, it is in the shape of two truncated cones, with their bases joined together, placed over another truncated cone. The distance from top to bottom is fourteen Rajju and the width at the base is seven Rajju, at the widest part between the top and the middle the width is five Rajju and that at the top and the narrowest part in the middle is one Rajju.
This is the measure of the universal space in which exist all the heavens (Svargaloka), hells (Naraka-bhumis), the humanlands (Manuşyaloka) and the abode of the perfected souls (Siddhaloka)
It stands to logic that the lower half of the universal space, known as Adholoka, is occupied by the seven hellish grounds inhabited by the denizens of hells, the middle part of the universe, called Madhyaloka, is where the human-beings and the animal existence reside. The upper near half of the universal space is taken up by twelve Vaimānika heavens, nine Graiveyaka heavens and five Anuttara-vimāna heavens where the respective gods reside in all their heavenly splendour. The Siddhaloka or the abode of the liberated perfect souls is in the uppermost portion of the universe, beyond which there is nothing but non-universal space.
The one Rajju wide cylindrical space in the middle from top to bottom of the universal space is known as Tras-nāļi and it is the only space in which the mobile living-beings of the universe are found. Rest of the space is filled with either the inanimate entities or the immobile living beings of the one-sensed variety.
KSETRA LOKA (SPATIAL UNIVERSE): 229
