Dimensions of Islands and Oceans

Diameter of Jambūdvipa is one lakh yojanas. Diameter of the Lavanasamudra is two lakh yojanas, double the diameter of Jambūdvipa. Likewise the diameter goes on doubling subsequently till the diameter of Krauncavara samudra is computed.

After these islands and oceans, thirty two in total number, there exist innumerable islands and oceans which precede the last series of sixteen islands and sixteen oceans whose names starting from the last ocean Svayambhūramatna ocean backward to the first island manahsila dvipa, (eu%f’ky }hi) are stated as given below;

LIST OF OUTERMOST SERIES OF ISLANDS AND OCEANS

Sr. No.           Ocean                                      Island

I.             1. Svayambhiiramal).a samudra          Svayambhtiramal).a dvipa

J.             (Lo;aHkwje.k leqnz )

2.Abhindravara samudra                  Abhindravara dvipa

(vHkhUnzoj leqnz )

3.             3. Devavara samudra ( nsooj leqnz)                     Devavara dvipa

4.Yaksavara samudra                      Yaksavara dvipa

(;{koj leqnz)

 18                                  Jaina Geography

  Sr. No.           Ocean                                   Island

5.             Bhūtavara samudra (Hkwroj leqnz)        Bhūtavara dvipa

6.             Nāgavara samudra (ukxoj leqn)        Nigavara dvipa

7.             Vaidūrya samudra (oSnw;Z leqn)           Vaidūrya dvipa

8.             Vajravara samudra (otzoj leqn)        Vajravara dvIpa

     9.       Kāncana samudra (dkapu leqn)          Kaneana dvipa

   10.       Rūpyavara samudra (#I;oj leqn)      Rūpyavara dvipa

   1 1.      Hingula samudra ( fgaxqyk leqn)          Hingula dvipa

   12.        Anjanavara samudra                   Anjanavara dvipa

              ( vatuoj leqn)

   13.      Syama samudra ( ’;ke  leqn)               Syima dvipa

    14.     Sindūra samudra ( flUnwj  leqn)            Sindiira dvipa

  15.       Haritāla samudra ( gfjrky  leqn)          Haritlla dvipa

   16.        Manahsila samudra                        Manahsila dvipa

( eu%f’ky   leqn)

As a general rule, an island always precedes the ocean. Thus the outermost ocean is Svayambhūramana samudra.

‘What and Where' Description in the Islantis

Jambūdvipa, Dhātakihhanda (?kkrdh[kaM ) dvipa and half of the third Puskaravara dvipa (iq"djoj) make a system of Adhai dvipas (v<kbZ }hi) (two and a half islands) on whose bhogabhtumi (Hkksx Hkwfe) and karmabhumi (deZ Hkwfe) the human beings do take birth. In Puskara­vara dvipa, there exists a ring type Mānusottara parvata (ekuqq"kksRrj ioZr) (mountain) beyond which human beings do not live at all.  Then beginning from rest of the half of Puskaravara dvipa right up to the half of Svayambhuramana dvipa (Lo;aHkwje.k }hi), only tiryanchas (sub-human) (fr;ZIp) reside. These tiryancas are the pro­duct of bhogabhūmis. They are born in pairs, live for an utkrsta (maximal) life of one palya and obtain the rank of a deva after death. In this context, it is stated in Jambūdvipa Pannatti   11th Uddesa, as:

“In the innumerable islands, except Jambudvipa, Dhatakhikhanda

                                     Madhyaloka                                                                 19

dvipa, half of the Puskaravara dvipa and half of the Svayambhu­ramana dvipa, the animals with five senses, the tiryancas, with a life of one palya, do take birth. They are 2000 dhanusas (/kuq"k) long, built with delicate limbs, mandakasais (eUnd"kk;h) and reapers of fruit. They are born in pairs. They take food on alternate days. After death, they reach the suraloka (lqjyksd). They are not reborn anywhere else as enunciated by the omniscient." (Jambhūdvipa-­pannattisamgaho, 11th uddesaka)

In the Svayambhūrarama dvipa, there exists Svayamprabhā parvata (Lo;aizHkk ioZr) just similar to Mānusottara parvata (ekuq’kksRrj ioZr). On this side of it, there live tiryancas who are product of bhogabhomi. These tiryancas do not include animals with two senses, three senses and four senses who are the product of karmabhūmi and live on the other side of the Svayamprabhā parvata.

Real Jina Temple

Real Jina temples, 458 in number, exist over the land stretched from Jambūdvipa up to Rucakavara dvipa (#pdoj }hi), the thirteenth in number.

Where and What Type of Water in Oceans

The water of Lavanasamudra tastes, like its name indicates i.e. saltish, the taste of Lavana (common salt). Likewise the water of Varunivara samudra tastes like the madya (e|) (wine), of Ghrtavara samudra like Ghee (?kh ) (heated butter) and of Ksiravara samudra like dūdha (milk). The water of the Ksiravara samudra is used for Janmabhisheka (tUekfHkIksd) of tirthankaras.

The water of Kālodadhi samudra, Puskaravara samudra and Svayambhuramana samudra tastes like the ordinary water.

The taste of water of all the rest of oceans is similar to the taste of iksurasa (~b{kqjl) i.e. sugarcane.

The watery animals abound in Lavana samudra, Kalodadhi samudra and Svayambhūramana samudra only and in no other ocean.

Thus the brief description of Madhyaloka ends.