Shatkhandagama Pustak 04

Author(s): Pushpadant, Bhutbali, Hiralal Jain, Fulchandra Jain Shastri, Devkinandan, A N Upadhye
Publisher: Jain Sahityoddharak Fund Karyalay Amravati

Page 19

volume of this universe, the commentator is confronted with two divergent views. According to one view it is in the form of three conical frusta with a common cricular section in the middle; while according to the other view it is in the form of three frusta of pyramids with a common rectangular base in the middle. Virasena with his philosophic insight, discriminating genius and mathematical skill ultimately rejects the former view and adopts the latter. His conclusions are that the entire universe ( Lokakaśa ) has a total height of 14 rajjus and is in its volume 79=343 cubic rajjus, consisting of the lower universe which is 196 cubic rajjus and the upper universe which is 147 cubic rajjus. Between the lower and the upper universe is the rectangular section calied the middle world which is 1x7=7 square rajjus, and which contains in its middle the human world which is a circular area of 45 lakhs of yojanas in diameter. The rajju is thus the standard unit of this spatial measurement and it is only determined as innumerable yojanas long, equal to the smaller side, and of the larger side of the rectangular middle world, of the height of the lower or upper world and of the total height of the entire universe. This discussion as well as similar others bring to light several geometrical problems that confronted our ancient thinkers, and their solutions throw a considerable light upon the evolution of mathematical processes and theories in this country. We have tried to illustrate some of these by twenty diagrams in addition to a large number of examples,
Under the Sparśana-prarupana wich contains 185 Sutras, we find the volumes of space similarly considered from the point of view of the past as well as the future status of those beings, in addition to the present to which Kshetra-prarupana confines itself. The question here is the volume of space which beings of different spiritual stages and soul-quests ever happen to touch under one of the ten conditions mentioned above. In this connection the determination of the number of heavenly luminaries shining above the innumerable islands and seas gives rise to a number of interesting mathematical excercises, ( see pp 150-161 of the text ).
! In the Kala-prarupana which contains 342 Sutras, the consideration is of the minimum and maximum periods of time spent by the souls, singly or in aggregates, in the various spiritual stages and soul-quests, The smallest period of time comprehended is an instant (Samaya ) of which innumerable are included in an avali and a breath (Prana ) which is equal to 18 of a second ( see Vol. III, Introduction p. 34). The series