Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 1

Author(s): Hemchandracharya, Helen M Johnson
Publisher: Oriental Research Institute Vadodra

Page 401

APPENDIX I
COSMOGRAPHY
(Tri. 2. 3. 478-800)
The universe, in the shape of a man standing in the vaiśākha-position with his hands on his hips; filled with substance having the characteristics of permanence, origination, perishing; at the bottom resembling a cane-stand, in the middle 421 a jhallari, and at the top a muraja, is composed as follows:
It is filled with three worlds, and in it seven earths are surrounded by very strong thick water, thick wind, and thin wind. The three worlds are divided into lower, middle, and upper-the terms 'lower, middle, and upper,' however, being used in reference to Rucaka. Rucaka has four units of space in the shape of a cow's teat at the center of Meru; 422 and above the same as below, so making eight units. The Middle World extends 900 yojanas above and below Rucaka.
Description of Lower World (484-514)
The Lower World is established below the Middle World with a depth of seven rajjus less 900 yojanas. In it are seven earths, one below the other, occupying the lower part, in which are the terrifying abodes of the hell-inhabitants: Ratnaprabhā, Sarkarā-, Vāluka-, Panka-, Dhuma-, Tamaḥ-, Mahātamaḥprabha; and the height of these is 180,000, 132,000, 128,000, 120,000, 118,000, 116,000, 108,000 yojanas,
421 479. A jhallari is a cymbal and the point to the comparison is that the Middle World is circular. A muraja is the same as mṛdanga. Abhi. 2. 207.
422 482. They must be at the center of Meru' from the standpoint of thickness. They are at ground level, which is not the center from the standpoint of height.