Samayik And Chaityavandan Vidhi

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 45

Translation: In Karma lands, where Karma happens to be acquired, there are maximum 170 omniscient Lords having admantine bodies, 90 million other omniscient beings and 90 billion monks; at present there are 20 omniscient Lords, 20 million other omniscient beings and 20 billion monks, whom we adore every daybreak.
It is necessary to understand the concept of Jain geography in order to make out the contents of this stanza. According to that concept, the shape of the universe resembles the figure of a man with hands fixed on the waist and standing with feet apart. The portion of the waist constitutes the middle world, which consists of the islands and oceans alternating each other lying in concentric circles. The central island is known as Jambudweep. The first concentric land thereafter is called Dhatkikhand and the second one is called Pushkardweep.
Jambudweep is divided into 7 continents known as Bharat, Haimvat, Hari, Videh, Ramyak, Hairanyavat and Airvrat. Dhatkikhand as well as half of Pushkardweep have two sets of those continents bearing those very names. Of all these, only Bharat, Airvat and Videh are considered Karmabhoomi, meaning the lands where the people have to work for their livelihood. All other areas constitute Akarmaboomis, where the livelihood is derived from the bounties of nature. Since there are five sets of the continents in all, there are 15 Karmabhoomis. Tirthankars are born only in those Karmabhoomis.
Jainim also believes in time cycles consisting of immeasurably long periods. Each time cycle has an ascending order called Utsarpini and a descending order called Avsarpini. All the Bharat and Airvat continents experience an ever increasing improvement during the ascending order and an ever accelerating deterioration during the descending order. Each of such half cycles is divided in six eras and 24Tirthankars are born there one after another during the third and fourth eras of every Utasrpini and Avsarpini.
Mahavideh Kshetra is not subject to such periods of improvement and decline. The moderately favorable conditions prevail there forever. Similarly there are always some extant Tirthankars in that continent. It is laid down that there are at least 20 Tirthankars there at the rate of four per Mahavideh Kshetra, as it is at present. But there could be as many as 32 in each of them. For 5 Mahavideh Kshetras together, there could therefore be maximum 160 extant Tirthankars. Since five Bharats and Airvats can have one extant Tirthankar each during the periods mentioned above, there could be maximum 170 extant Tirthankars at a time as laid down in this stanza. That had actually happened in the time of Lord Ajitnäth..
The figures of the omniscient Lords and of the monks mentioned in this stanza may appear astronomical. It should, however, be remembered that those figures do not pertain exclusively to our earth, but to the entire universe. Within the vast universe there are bound to be many lands, where living beings may exist. Taking into consideration the numbers of the living beings in all such lands, the figures may not seem improbable.