________________
2: Śramaņa, Vol 62, No. 1 January-March 2011
cosmography is a contested area in contemporary Jainism related to the ever-demanding presence of modern science. In tune with my interest in Jainism as a lived tradition my presentation of Jaina cosmography will be based on works of the Digambara Jaina Institute of Cosmographic Research. The short presentation of the middle world that I provide here will not do justice to the near endless details found in Jaina scriptures on cosmography. Jaina cosmography is distinguished by a meticulous systematic and mathematical approach (Bossche 2000: 1); my presentation will not reflect this flavor. I have deliberately left out all details of size and length which takes up significant portions in original Jaina cosmographic material, and so also of all the names of various areas, rivers, mountains, oceans, and islands in the various oceans, gods and buildings on the islands in these oceans, etc. Instead I have tried to highlight those details that are important in shaping Jaina religious life and understanding. Jaina cosmography: A map of Islands, times and ritual activity Jains have showed a remarkable interest in cosmography compared to their Buddhist and Brahmanic counterparts (Bossche 2007: xi). One happy outcome of this interest has been the many Jaina versions of the board game that was later to be known as Snakes and Ladders in the west, an often forgotten Jaina contribution to the world. In terms of sources, basic Jaina cosmography is laid out already in Āgamic literature, but the majority of cosmographical works and detailed expansions on the topic are post-canonical (ibid: xi-xii)2. The Digambaras have divided their canon into four main parts known as "expositions" (anuyogas) that are supposed to cover the entire Jaina doctrine. It is notable that the 2nd exposition, Karana ("calculation"3), is in large parts devoted to cosmography. The Jaina doctrine and religion therefore, cannot be understood properly without studying Jaina cosmography. In the words of Bossche, "Jaina cosmography and geography form an essential part of Jainism as a religion" (ibid: 1).
