________________
52
(if there has been made one) to reproduce it in my book, if possible.
Allow me to address to you some questions concerning Jainism.
1) Mr. Jagmandirlal Jain writes in his 'Outlines of Jainism' p. 121, “Through the centre of the universe runs the region of mobile souls (trasa-nādī) It is 14 rajjus high, 1 rajju thick and 1 rajju broad. All living beings are here, i. e. all men, all animals, gods and devils and also immobile souls. But it is called trasa-nadi because the mobile (trasa) souls cannot live outside it". Is this also the doctrine of the Shvetāmbara and are the measures they give for the trasanadı the same ?
2) Mrs. Stevenson in the 'Heart of Jainism' p. 271 writes: A Shvetambara Sadhu told the writer of a still worse place (worse than the Mahatarnasprabha Hell ), Nigoda situated below the feet of the figure of the world-man ) in which are thrown evil jiva who have committed specially heinous sins like murder, and who have no hope of ever coming out. They suffer excruciating tortures, such as having millions of red-hot needles thrust into them, and know that their pain is unending. There must be a mistake in this, because Nigoda is no place, so far as I know, but the Nigodas are a sort of undeveloped living beings, containing many souls. Is the doctrine that below the hell nigodas are living in eternal damnation right? Where may I find something on it in a sanskrit or prakit text ?
3) What is the Kakini-ratna of the Chakravartin ? Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat www.umaragyanbhandar.com
