Scientific Vision of Lord Mahavira

Author(s): Chaitanyapragyashreeji
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

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The Model of the Universe in the Bh.S.
is curvature. Such curvatures are found only in the ends of the universe.94 This assumption is really similar to the cosmologists of today. It is somehow closer to the Einstein preposition of the curvature of threedimensional space with slight difference. By that he supposed that the universe is finite. According to the general theory of relativity, "the three dimensional space of our universe can curve around itself and be finite just like the curved surface of the earth".95 Inspite of having accepted the finite of the universe the scientists, like Jains, also regard that we would never encounter a physical boundary or a stop sign that says the universe ends here.
The Expanse of the Universe
The cosmos is bounded and limited while the transcosmos is limitless. The former has only innumerable space-points (pradesa) while the latter has infinite. Instead of being limited with reference to the substance and also with reference to the space the extension of the universe cannot be numerically expressed.
The canon Bh.S indicates the largeness of the universe and that of the Supra-universe with the help of the examples of the inability of sixteen swiftest gods to reach the end of the universe with their fastest divine speed. The analogical parables used by Lord Mahavir are as follows
"Imagine, six gods of higher level are standing on the top of the Mount Meru situated in the mid of the universe, which is one lake Yojanas in height. Suppose again that at the foot of the Mount Meru, four goddesses (dikkumārikas) are standing facing the opposite directions of the Mount. They throw four balls in all the four directions. At that time one of the six gods starts flying to catch all the balls in mid before they touch the ground. This speed is the fastest one."
With this fastest divine speed the six gods run in each direction; one goes in the East, one in the West, one in the North, one in the South, one in the upper and one in the lower direction. At the same time a child is born in a merchant's house. He lives for one thousand years. His parents die after his birth. He also dies. Not only he but seven successors of his age also die. Even the memory of their family and the status etc. are totally obliterated from the minds of the people. Still, the gods continue to run yet, they could not get to the end of the universe. Nevertheless, it is sure that they have covered the major portion of the distance of the universe and the crossed space is much more than uncrossed space, even though the end of the universe is far from them."
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In the same manner the vastness of the transcosmos has also been dealt with. The difference lies only in the number of gods, goddesses and the directions. In the context of transcosmos, the gods are ten in number and the goddesses are eight. Additional four directions are Southeast, Northeast, Southwest and Northwest. But, in the case of transcosmos, the distance