In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

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

Bālukāprabhā (बालुकाप्रभा) or simply Bālukā refers to one of the seven lands (bhumī) or layers of the underworld (adholoka or naraka), according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 3.1. Each ‘land’ of hell has a hue (prabhā), which is an attribute of light. Hence this word is associated with each of the seven lands. That ‘land’ which is sand-hued (bālukā) is called Bālukāprabhā. It is also known by the name Meghā.

These seven lands (e.g., bālukā-prabhā) exist in the downward order (one below the other) with Ratnaprabhā being the topmost supported by the cushions of humid atmosphere (ghana), dense air /water (ambu), which rests in a ring of thin /rarified air (vāta) resting in space (ākāśa). Bālukāprabhā has one and half million infernal abodes (naraka). The maximum life span of infernal beings in Bālukāprabhā land is seven ocean-mesured-periods (sāgaropama).

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Bālukāprabhā (बालुकाप्रभा).—f.

(-bhā) One of the seven hells of the Jainas, the hell of sand. E. bālukā sand and prabhā splendour.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Bālukāprabhā (बालुकाप्रभा):—[bālukā-prabhā] (bhā) 1. f. One of the seven hells of the Jainas.

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Baluka, Prabha.

Full-text: Adholoka, Valukaprabha, Bhumi.

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