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Tattvārthasūtra
darkness (mahātamah) is Mahātamahprabhā. These names are derived in this manner. The word 'earth' is intended to indicate the particular nature of the substratum which is solid like the earth. The infernal regions are not like the layers of heavens, which rest without any substratum like the earth. But the infernal regions rest on solid earth. The circles of atmosphere are mentioned in order to indicate the support of these earths. All these earths (which comprise the infernal regions) are successively surrounded by the circle of humid atmosphere - ghanodadhivātavalaya. The sheath of humid atmosphere is supported by the circle of dense air-ghanavātavalaya. The circle of dense air rests in thin air-tanuvātavalaya, which rests in space (ākāśa). And space rests in itself, as it is itself the support and the supported. Each of these three supports (zones) has the thickne of twenty thousand yojana. The number ‘seven' is intended to exclude any other number; there are only seven earths, neither eight nor nine. The phrase 'adho(a)dhaḥ'indicates that these are one below the other and not transverse, parallel or horizontal. The space (ākāśa) has two parts, the non-universe-space (alokākāśa) and the universe-space (lokākāśa). (see Fig.-1) The universe-space (lokākāśa) is in the centre of the non-universe-space (alokākāśa). It, the universe-space (lokākāśa), is without a creator - akrtrima, without a beginning and an end-anādinidhana, and comprises six substances (dravya). In the north and the south directions, everywhere, from the bottom to the crest, its extension is seven rajju. In the east and west directions, its extension is seven rajju at the bottom. As we go up to the height of seven rajju, the extension decreases from both sides till it reduces to one rajju. As we go further up to the height of ten rajju, the extension increases from both sides till it reaches five rajju. Then, at the height of fourteen rajju, the extension reduces again from both sides till it reaches one rajju. Viewed from the east to the west, the universe is like the image of a standing man with legs wide-apart, and arms folded with hands resting on the waist. The lower part of the universe is like the cane-stool (āsana), the middle part is like the frill Ghālara), and the top part is like the Indian percussion instrument
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