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463. Where do humans live?
Human live in the human region of the middle world (Nar lok).
Chapter # 3.22 Universe according to the Jain philosophy.
464.
How many parts of the universe are there?
There are three parts of the universe:
1. The upper world - Urdhva lok. 2. The middle world - Madhya lok. 3. The lower world - Adho lok.
465.
What is called the lower world?
A seven-rajju distance down Mount Meru is called the lower world. Raju is defined as follows - the distance flown by the celestial being in six months at a rate of 2, 057,152 yojans in one kshan instant of time). One yojan is equal to 455,545 miles. Thus one raju equals 145 x 104 miles (according to Jain sidhdhant kosh by Jinendra Varniji, part 3, page 401).
466. What is called the upper world?
From Mount Meru to the end of the top of the universe is called the upper world.
467. What is called the middle world (Madhya Lok)?
From Mount Meru up to a height of 100,040 yojans is the middle world.
468.
Can the middle world be described in more detail?
In the center of the middle world there is Jambu Island which is 100,000 yojans diameter at present. In the center of the Jambu Island, there is Mount Meru which is 100,000 yojans in height. The Mount Meru base is about 10,000 yojans deep into the ground. Ninety nine thousand yojans height is above ground level. The top of Mount Meru is at forty yojans in height. In the middle of the Jambu Island, east to west side, there are six long mountain ranges present. These divide Jambu Island into seven continents, which are named as follows:
1. Bharat. 2. Haimvat.
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