Units of Length in Jaina Canons

Author(s): N L Jain
Publisher: Z_Aspect_of_Jainology_Part_2_Pundit_Bechardas_Doshi_012016.pdf

Page 14

Some Descriptions Based on Larger Length Units
Many description relating larger distances, area and volumes are available in Jaina Canons. Some of them are presented here in current terms in Table VIII. Let us first look at the island-Jambudvipa-in which we live. It is named after a Jambu tree in its centre. It is 6Y in height, 8Y in length and 6Y in diameter. The corresponding description is given in Table VIII. It is clear that this cannot be based on PY. Basing it on UY also looks like an exaggeration. Not only this, 108 Jambu trees of half the dimensions of the main tree are surrounding it. If we assume that there is at least one tree surrounding it in one direction, there will be approximately a row of approximately 27 trees of 60 km length covering a distance of 27 x 601620 km. in one direction. This is equal to a distance from Delhi to Kazipeth, Bombay, Veraval and Howrah. Thus, it seems that more than half of the present India will contain only the family of Jambu trees. This description seems to be imaginary when one thinks of current distances and descriptions of the trees.
The Jambu island has a diameter of 105 PY. This island has the Bharat Khand with an area of a little over 1/190 of main island and diameter of app. 526 YP. The island has Meru mount in the centre
Table VIII. Current Values for some canonical Descriptions Values based on UY
Items
1. Jambudvipa
(i) Diameter, 10 Y, km.
(ii) Circumference, 3.16x 10 Y
(iii) Area
2. Bharat Khand
Units of Length in Jaina Canons
(i) Diameter, 526 Y
3. Mount Meru
(i) Under the Earth, 1000 Y
(ii) Over the Earth, 99,000 Y
4. Jambu Tree
(i) Diameter, 6Y, Km.
(ii) Height, 6Y
(iii) Length, 8Y
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دو
5. Height (Lord Rishabhdeo), 0.05Y
6. Height of Palace, 225D 7. Length of Palace, 300D 8. Width of Palace, 150D 9. Height of Vijay Dvar, 8Y 10. Diameter ,, 4Y
15x 105
47.4 x 105
11.6x1011
3.5 x 10"
90 90
120
910 metres
410
547
273
120 km.
60 km.
117
PY based values
7.5 x 10
2.4 x 100
5.9 × 1014
7890.00
7.5 x 106
7.4 x 10
45,000 45,00
60,000