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JAMBŪDVIPA
Jambūdvipa, the circular land mass, is divided
in seven regions namely Bharata (Hkjr
),
Haimavata (gseor),
Hari ( gfj
), Videha (fonsg),
Ramyaka (
jE;d ), Hairanyavata (gSj.;or
) and Airavata (,jkor
), by the placement of six mountains viz. Himavana (fgeou
), Mahahimavana (egk
fgeou ),
Nisadha
(fu"k/k),
Nila (uhy),
Rukmi
(#Deh
)
and Sikhari (f’k[kjh
). The
north-southern stretch of Bharata region is 525-6/19 yojanas. The stretch
goes on doubling till we reach videha region after which it again goes on
reducing by one half.
Due to kāla parivartana (
dky ifjorZu
)
(six variations of time measurement e.g.
susama-susama (lq"kek-lq"kek)
etc. the existence of different bhūmis in different ksetras
({ks=)
(regions) are given as under:
Kestras
({ks=).
Bhūimi
(Hkwfe)
Bharata and Airavata
Karmabhiimi (deZ
Hkwfe)
(,jkor)
Haimavata (gSeor)
and Jaghanya bhogabhūmi
Hairanyavata
(gSj.;or)
(t?kU;
HkksxHkwfe )
Hari (gfj)
and Ramyaka (jE;d)
Madhyama bhogabhūmi
(e/;e
Hkksx Hkwfe)
Devakuru (
nsodq#)
and Uttarakuru Uttama bhogabhiimi
(mrjdq#)
in Videha (mRre
Hkksx Hkwfe)
In Videhaksetra, due to the existence of 16
vaksara parvatas and 12 vibhanga rivers there become 32 ksetras whose
names are kaccha, sukaccha etc. In all these 32 ksetras, karma bhūmi
exists for ever and is therefore called as universal karmabhūmi.
The north-southern stretch of Videha ksetra is
33684-4/19 yojanas and east-western length 100000 yojanas; right at its
centre, there exists the mount Sudarsana Meru having 100040 yojanas height
and 10000 yojanas base-diameter which continuously reduces to 4 yojanas at
the top. On four directions each of meru there exists a gajadanta parvata
touching Meru on one side and |
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Jambūdvipa
21
NiIa parvata on the other side. These mountains
have also demarcated the four directions of Videha. Towards North of
Sumeru, there is Jambu tree situated in the Iśāna kona (north-western
direction) in Uttarakuru. Similarly towards south of Sumeru, there is
Śālmali tree situated in the Āgneya kona (south-eastern direction) in
Devakuru. In both the Kuru regions there are ten types of kalpa trees and
there exists Uttama bhogabhūmi for ever.
In east-western directions of Sumeru in Videha,
the rivers-Sita and Sitoda-flow. This causes the division of eastern and
western regions of Videha into northern and southern portions each. In
east of Sumeru and north of Sita river, first of all there occurs Vedikā
of Bhadrasalavana, followed by ksetra, and Vaksara parvata having a
stretch of 500 yojanas and length of 16592-2/19 yojanas and height of 400
yojanas near Nila parvata and 500 yojanas near Sita river. This is a
golden mountain with four kutas. There is a Jina temple at the Kuta near
the river and gods and goddesses live at rest of the three kutas. This
mountain is followed by ksetra, Vibhanga river, again ksetra and Vaksara
parvata. In this series there exist four Vaksara parvatas and three
Vibhanga rivers which divide Videha into eight regions. Similarly there
are eight regions towards the south of Sita river. Similarly in western
Videha, towards south and north of Sita river there are eight regions
each. Thus there are 32 ksetras in all whose names are given as under:
Kaccha, Sukaccha, Mahakaccha, Kacchakavati,
Avarta, Langalavarta, Puskala, Puskalavati, Vatsa, Suvatsa, Mahavatsa,
Vatsakavati, Ramya, Suramya, Ramaniya, Ramyakavati, Padma, Supadma,
Mahapadama, Padamakavati, Sankha, Nalini, Kumuda, Sarita, Vapra, Suvaprii,
Mahavaprii, Vaprakavati, Ganlha, Suganha, Gandhila, and Gandhamalini.
Description of Kaccha Videha (dPNk
fonsg )
Kaccha Videha ksetra is stretched over 2212-7/8
yojanas and 16592- 2/19 yojanas in the east-western and
south-northern directions respectively. In this region, there exists
Vijayardha mountain having 50 yojanas breadth, 2212-7/8 yojanas length and
25 yojanas height, on both sides of which there exist two Vidyadhara
srenis each. On every Vidyadhara Sreni there are 55 villages of human
beings. There are nine kutas over Vijayirdha parvata. There is a Jina
temple at one kuta and palaces of devas on rest of the eight
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22 Jaina
Geography
kūtas. Ganga and Sindhu rivers starting from
two kundas situated at the bottom of Nila parvata, passing through the
Timisra and Khandaprapāta caves of Vijayārdha parvata falls into Sitā
River. Vijayārdha parvata and Ganges and Sindhu rivers divide Kaccha
region into six portions. The portion situated near the middle of river
is Āryakhanda and rests of the five portions are Mleccha khandas.
Āryakhanda has 714 yojanas breadth and 8271-1/17 yojanas length. At
central place of Āryakhanda there exists Ksema town which is capital of
Āryakhanda. This ends the description of Kaccha Videha. Similarly the
description of rest of the 31 regions of Videha may be understood.
Establishment of Videha Ksetra
Every Videha has 96 crores villages, 26000
towns, 16000 khetas, 24000 kharvadas, 4000 madambas, 48000 pattanas,
99000 dronas, 14000 samvāhas, and 28000 durgātavīs.
The area fenced with thorns all around is
called a grāma (village), the area having four gates and encircled with
high walls is called nagara (town). The area encircled with river and
mountain is called kheta. Kharvada is the region encircled by mountains.
Five hundred villages make a madamba. The place with mines of precious
stones is known as pattana. The region encircled with river is called
drona, encircled with the ocean samvāha and situated at the mountain
durgātavi. In every Videha ksetra, in the Āryakhanda situated in between
the capital and the major river, there exists a sub-ocean with an island
having 56 sub-islands, 26000 ratnākaras and 700 kuksivāsas for purchase
and sale of precious stones.
In the eastern direction near the water of
Sita and Sitoda rivers there exist three islands-Magadha, Varatanu and
Prabhāsa-where Vyantara devas reside.
Rainy Season in Videha Ksetra
Through seven kinds of black clouds (dkyes?k
) it rains for 7 days each i.e. 49 days in all. Though 12 kinds of white
clouds known as Drona, it rains for 7 days each i.e. 84 days in all.
Thus 49 +
84 make 133 days on which it rains in Videha
Ksetra in rainy season.
What Nots in Videha K~etra
In Videha Ksetra, a famine never takes place.
Seven kinds of 'excesses' do not exist, viz. 1. Over-rainfall, 2.
Under-rainfall,
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Jamuhdvipa 23
3. Rats trouble. 4. Locust
trouble. 5. Parrots trouble. 6. Sacakra (self-created) trouble, 7.
Paracakra (created by others) trouble.
Mari roga (epidemic)
i.e. unusual deaths of human beings or cows, does not take place.
Devils, emotionally disturbed saints, and bad natured beings also do not
exist. (See Trilokasāra, vv. 674-680.)
In Videha, human beings of
500 utkrsta dhanusas avagāhana with an age of one koti pūrva years,
belonging to Ksatriya, Vaisya and Sūdra castes and earning their
livelihood through Asi, Masi and Krsi (agriculture) respectively reside.
The general public follow their duties and responsibilities according to
rules mentioned for Sravakas, while there exist Munis also who follow
their dharma (Muni dharma). Tirthankaras. Chakravartis. Bālabhadras.
Nārayaoas and Pratinārayanas do come at all times. The number of
tīrthankaras varies from 4 to 32 at any time. Four tirthankaras, viz
Sīmandhara (lheU/kj).
Yugamandhara (;qxeU/kj),
Bāhu
(ckgw)
and Subahu (lqckgw),
also known as Virahāmana tīrthankaras, exist at present. Likewise in
connection with five Merus, there are 160 (32
x
5) Videhas. In all, the
number of tīrthankaras and cakravartis etc. varies from 20 to 160 (see
Trilokasāra v. 681).
Fourteen Rivers
At 6 mountains viz. Himavan
etc. there exist six oceans, namely Padma (ine),
Mahapadma (egk
ine). Tigiňccha (frfxUN),
Kesarī
(qdsljh)
Mahāpundarīka (egkiq.Mjhd)
and Pundarīka (iq.Mjhd).
From Padma and
Pundarīka oceans there flow three rivers each and from rest of the four
oceans only two rivers flow from each. Thus there are 14 rivers viz.
Gangā (
xaxk w)
and Sindhu
(
flU/k
)q,
Rohita
(
jksfgr
)and Rohitasyā
(jksfgrlL;k
),
Harita
(gfjrk
)
and Harikāntā (gfjdkUrk),
Sitā
(lhrk
)
and Sitodā
(lhrksnk).
Nāri (ukjh)
and Narakāntā (ujdkUrk).
Suvarnakūlā
(lqo.kZ
dwyk) and Rūpyakulā
(#I;dwyk)
and Raktā (jDrk)
and Raktodā (jDrksnk).
In the 7 regions viz. Bharata etc. these
14
rivers flow, 2
rivers in each region.
Bharata Kletra
Bharata ksetra is stretched
over 526-6/19
yojanas. In east-western
direction, Vijayārdha parvata having 50 yojanas breadth and 25 yojanas
length passes through its middle. In t he northern and southern sides of
this mountain there exist towns of Vidyādharas. This mountain has two
caves, namely, Tamisra and Khandaprapāta. Gańgā and Sindhu rivers
originating from Padma
lake of Himavāna
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24
Jaina Geography
parvata flow for
500 yojanas each upon the parvata in the
eastwestern direction and then turning towards south fall
down as streams resembling gomukha (face of the cow). At the
bottom of Himavāna parvata, the falling waters produce kundas
(pits) of Gang and Sindhu respectively. At the kūtas (peaks)
of these two pools, there are bhavanas at the roofs of which
real Jina statues in lotus poses are situated having thick
hair at the forehead of each. The Gangā and Sindhu rivers
touching the lord-heads flow ahead (see Trilokasāra, v. 68).
These rivers coming out of kundas move along wavy paths in the
region and passing through the caves of Vijayārdha move
through the region again and ultimately fall into the Lavana
samudra (Salt Ocean).
Therefore
Vijayārdha parvata and Gangā, Sindhu rivers cause the division
of Bharata Ksetra into 6 portions, one of which situated in
the southern direction is Āryakhanda and Fest of the 5 are
mleccha khandas. Amidst the three mleccha khandas in the
northern direction there exists Vrsabhāchala parvata where the
cakravarti celebrates his victory after winning over the six
regions. The distance between Āryakhanda of Bharata ksetra and
Videha ksetra is more than 20 crore miles. In Bharata and
Airākvata ksetras, the six-cyclic changes of time always go on
moving.
Six-Cyclic
Changes of Time
In Bharata and
Airavata ksetras, the six-cyclic changes
of time
move along avasarpinī and utsarpini periods. During the period
of avasarpini, the age, body etc. of living beings go on
decreasing and the reverse is true during the period of
utsarpini. (See Trilokasāra, Gatha 779). The division of these
periods is given as under:
Period
Sub-Period Duration Bhumi
Avasarpini
Susama-susamā 4 -Kodākodī Sāgara Uttama
Susamā 3-KodākodSāgara Madhyama
Susama-dusamā 2 KodākodSāgara Jaghanya
Dusamā-susamā
1 KodākodSāgara
+42000 years
Karma
Dusama
21000 years Karma
Utsarpini
Dusama-dusamā 21000 years Karma
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Jamuhdvipa
25
The human
beings have their height 3 kośas, and age 3 palyas in Uttama
bhogabhumi, height 2 kośas and age 2 palyas in Madyama
bhogabhumi, and height 1 kosa and age 1 palya in Jaghanya
bhogabhumi. Here the material for use is obtained from 10
types of Kalpa trees.
At the central
place of Āryakhanda in Bharata ksetra there is situated
Ayodhyā town, 119 yojanas south of which exists the vedikā
of Salt Ocean and at an equal distance towards the northern
direction exists the vedikā of Vijayārdha parvata. Gangā and
Sindhu rivers are situated in the eastern and north-western
directions at a distance of 1000 yojanas each from Ayodhya
town. Thus Āryakhanda is demarcated by Lavana-samudra in
south, Vijayārdha parvata in north,
Gangā
river in east and Sindhu river in west.
From Ayodhya
town, towards south at a distance of 47600 miles there
exists Lavana samudra, towards north at a distance 47600
miles there exists Vijayārdha parvata, towards east and west
at a distance of 400000 miles there exist Gangā and Sindhu
rivers each. The whole of the modern world exists within
Āryakhanda and we all here live Bharatavarsa (India)
in Āryakhal)Qa.
The human
beings have their height 500 dhanusas and age 11 pūrvakoti
years in the fourth sub-period i.e. dusamā-susamā, height 7
hastas (hands) and age 120 years in dusamā, and height 2
hastas and age 20 years in dusamā-dusamā.
In the
present age of avasarpini, at 1/8 palya as balance of third
sub-period, i.e., susamā-dusamā, several Kulakaras namely
Pratiśruti
(izfrJqfr),
Sanmati
(lUefr),
Ksemankara
({kseadj),
Ksemandhara
({kseU/kj),
Simankara (lheadj),
Simandhara (lheU/kj),
Vimalavahana
(foey
okgu),
Caksusmana
(p{kq"eku
),
Yasasvi
(;’kLoh),
Abhichanda (vfHkpUnz),
Chandrābha (
pUnzkHk),
Marudeva
(e#nso),
Prasenajita
(izlsuftr),
Nābhirāya
(ukfHkjk;)
and his
son Rsabhadeva were born. It is worth noticing that here
Rsabhadeva, the first tirthatikara, has also been considered
as a kulakara whereas in some other texts, Nābhirāya has
been termed as 14th and the last Kulakara (cf. Trilokasara,
vv.792-794).
In this age,
when the public brought the living problems before the Lord
Rsabhadeva, the Indra, by the order of the Lord,
constructed villages, cities, etc. Again the Lord, through
clairvoyance (vof/kKku),
knew the whole order in Videha ksetra, established the
communal system and showed them the means of livelihood.
The same fact
has been revealed by Nemicandracarya: "Lord
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26
Jaina Geography
Rsabhanātha, the Originator Brahmā, got constructed cities,
villages towns, etc. and established universal behavioral
texts, war, writing, agriculture, as well as established the
religion of kindness in origin."
(iqjxkeVV.kknh
yksfg;lR;a p yks;oogkjks A /kEeks fo n;kewyks fof.kfEe;ks
vkfnczgasE.k
(Cf. Trilokasāra, v. 802). |
Note:- In
this book most of the words have been used from the
Prakrit Language and while copying
the same there may be certain
errors in spite of our best efforts.
Any mistake noticed may be brought
to our notice for making
rectifications.
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