Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 547

522
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA
[Ch. IX
The Lokasthiti is explained by an example thus, "as some person fills a leather bladder with air and binds its mouth with a knot; then he ties a knot in the middle of it and opens the upper knot (i.e. mouth) and bleeds the air from its upper part and fills it with water, Next he, binding the mouth of the bladder opens the middle knot; as a result of this action the filled up water will rest on the uppermost portion of the air."
"Or some man fills the bladder with air, ties it to his waist and enters into very deep water with the superhuman power, but he will rest on the upper surface of the water with the help of the upward force of this filled up bladder without getting immersed into the water."
Cosmography
The BhS throws some light upon the Cosmography, but it does not give a complete account of the conception of the world.
SECOND SECTION
According to it the world is conceived of as comprising innumerable island-continents, each being separated by one encircling sea which increases double and double as compared with each preceding one, such as, Jambudvipa island, Lavana-Samudra (salt sea), Dhataki-khanda, Kalodadhi, Puskaravaradvipa, Abhyantara-Puskararddha-Manusyaksetra, Puskararddha Samudra, etc...... upto Svayambhuramana island and sea."
The Jambudvipa-island is the smallest of all islands and seas and is situated in the centre of all "Ayam Jambuddvive...... samuddāņam savvabhamtare"."
The BhS makes incidental references to Bharata, Airavata, Mahavideha, Haimavata, Hairanyavata, Harivarsa, Ramyakavarṣa, Devakuru and Uttarakuru as sub-continents in connection with the discussion on fifteen Karmabhumis and thirty Akarmabhumis.5
1 Bhs, 1, 6, 54. Ib, 11, 9, 418.
Ib, 6, 8, 251; 9, 2, 363-4.
4 16 2, 9, 117; 6, 5, 241. Ib, 20, 8, 676.