In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Jainism

Mahāpuṇḍarīka (महापुण्डरीक).—Name of a lake situated on top of the Rukmin mountain range. There are seven such mountain ranges (or, varṣadharaparvatas) located in Jambūdvīpa according to Jaina cosmology. Mahāpuṇḍarīka has at its centre a large padmahrada (lotus-island), which is home to the Goddess Buddhi. Jambūdvīpa sits at the centre of madhyaloka (‘middle world’) and is the most important of all continents and it is here where human beings reside.

Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

Mahāpuṇḍarīka (महापुण्डरीक) is the name of a lake situated on the Rukmin mountain, which resided in the Bhārata zone of Jambūdvīpa which is situated in the “middle world” (madhyaloka), according to chapter 2.2 [ajitanātha-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.

Accordingly:—“Making the division between these there are 7 mountain-ranges, bounding the zones: Himavat, Mahāhimavat, Niṣadha, Nīla, Rukmin, and Śikharin with equal diameter at the base and top. [...] The lake Mahāpuṇḍarīka on Rukmin is equal to Mahāpadma. [...] In all the lakes, [e.g., Mahāpuṇḍarīka, etc.], there are full-blown lotuses buried 10 yojanas in the water. Moreover, here are (the goddesses) Śrī, Hrī, Dhṛti, Kīrti, Buddhi, and Lakṣmī respectively, with life-periods of a palya, together with Sāmānikas, gods of the councils, bodyguards, and armies”.

Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra

Mahāpuṇḍarīka (महापुण्डरीक) refers to one of the fourteen limbs of the external-corpus (aṅga-bāhya). The Aṅgabāhya refers to one of the two types of scriptural knowledge (śruta), which refers to one of the five types of knowledge (jñāna). according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 1.20, “scriptural knowledge (śruta) preceded by sensory knowledge (mati) is of two, or of twelve or of many kinds (e.g., mahāpuṇḍarīka)”.

Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 3: The Lower and middle worlds

Mahāpuṇḍarīka (महापुण्डरीक) is a lake lying on top of mount Rukmī, situated in Jambūdvīpa: the first continent of the Madhya-loka (middle-word), according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 3.10. There is a giant lotus (puṣkara) in the centre of the lakes (e.g., Mahāpuṇḍarīka). In these lotuses live the nymphs (e.g., Buddhi, ‘wisdom’ for the Mahāpuṇḍarīka lake), whose lifetime is one pit-measured period (playa) and who live with Sāmānikas (co-chiefs) and Pāriṣadas (counsellors). A sāmānika is a deity who is equal to Indra in life-span, power and enjoyment but lack grandeur. The pāriṣadas (counsellors) are friendly deities who are members of Indra’s council.

Jambūdvīpa (where lies the Mahāpuṇḍarīka lake) is in the centre of all continents and oceans; all continents and oceans are concentric circles with Jambūdvīpa in the centre. Like the navel is in the centre of the body, Jambūdvīpa is in the centre of all continents and oceans. Sumeru Mount is in the centre of Jambūdvīpa. It is also called Mount Sudarśana.

context information

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Maha, Pundarika.

Full-text: Rukmin, Buddhi, Angabahya, Jambudvipa, Shikhari, Shikharin, Rukmi, Nila.

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Search found 4 books and stories containing Mahapundarika, Mahāpuṇḍarīka, Maha-pundarika, Mahā-puṇḍarīka; (plurals include: Mahapundarikas, Mahāpuṇḍarīkas, pundarikas, puṇḍarīkas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary) (by Vijay K. Jain)

Verse 3.14 - The lakes situated on top of the mountain chains < [Chapter 3 - The Lower World and the Middle World]

Verse 3.18 - The dimensions of the other lakes and lotuses < [Chapter 3 - The Lower World and the Middle World]

Verse 3.22 - The direction of the remaining rivers < [Chapter 3 - The Lower World and the Middle World]

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A study of the philosophy of Jainism (by Deepa Baruah)

Chapter I.e - Religious and philosophical literature of the Jainas < [Chapter I - Introduction]

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Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)

Part 23: Description of Jambūdvīpa < [Chapter III - The initiation and omniscience of Ajita]

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Sutrakritanga (English translation) (by Hermann Jacobi)

Lecture 3: Knowledge of Food < [Book 2]

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