In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Jainism

Dhūmaprabhā (धूमप्रभा, “smoke-hued”).—Fifth of the seven lands existing within adholoka (lower world) in Jain cosmology. These seven lands exists in downward order supported by cushions of humid atmosphere (ghana) and dense air/water (ambu), which rests in a ring of thin air (vāta) resting in space (ākāśa).

Adholoka represents the lower section of the universe and hosts the infernal beings that exists within these lands. Dhūmaprabhā features 5 stratas and 300,000 dwelling places according to the Bhagavatī-sūtra.

Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

Dhūmaprabhā (धूमप्रभा) refers to the fifth of the seven earths of the “lower world” (adhaloka), 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:—“the lower world (i.e., adhaloka) is established below the middle world (i.e., madhyaloka) with a depth of seven rajjus less 900 yojanas. In it are seven earths, one below the other, occupying the lower part, in which are the terrifying abodes of the hell-inhabitants. [...] Dhūmaprabhā consists of 300,000 hells. [...] In these are the hells, the places for experiencing bad karma. The pain (of punishment), disease, body (its size), age, soul-color, grief, fear, etc., must be known as increasing in the hells in succession”.

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

Dhūmaprabhā (धूमप्रभा) or simply Dhūma 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 smoke-hued is called Dhūmaprabhā. It is also known by the name Arista.

These seven lands (e.g., dhūma-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). Dhūmaprabhā has three million infernal abodes (naraka). The maximum life span of infernal beings in Dhūmaprabhā land is seventeen 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

Dhūmaprabhā (धूमप्रभा).—f.

(-bhā) A division of hell, the hell of smoke. E. dhūma, and prabhā what shines.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Dhūmaprabhā (धूमप्रभा):—[=dhūma-prabhā] [from dhūma > dhū] f. ‘having smoke as light’, Name of a hell, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

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

Dhūmaprabhā (धूमप्रभा):—[dhūma-prabhā] (bhā) 1. f. A hell of smoke.

[Sanskrit to German]

Dhumaprabha in German

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: Dhuma, Prabha.

Full-text: Seven Grounds, Adholoka, Bhumi.

Relevant text

Search found 3 books and stories containing Dhumaprabha, Dhūmaprabhā, Dhuma-prabha, Dhūma-prabhā; (plurals include: Dhumaprabhas, Dhūmaprabhās, prabhas, prabhās). 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 3.1 - The lower world (adholoka) < [Chapter 3 - The Lower World and the Middle World]

Verse 3.6 - The maximum duration of life in the seven infernal regions < [Chapter 3 - The Lower World and the Middle World]

Verse 3.2 - Infernal abodes (naraka) < [Chapter 3 - The Lower World and the Middle World]

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Bhagavati-sutra (Viyaha-pannatti) (by K. C. Lalwani)

Chapter 3: On the worlds (pṛthivī) < [Book 2]

Part 12 - On celestial positions < [Chapter 2]

Part 2 - Increase and decrease in the number of living beings < [Chapter 8]

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Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)

Part 11: Fifth incarnation of Kamaṭha < [Chapter II - Previous births of Pārśvanātha]

Subdivisions of Pañcendriyas < [Appendix 1.4: The nine tattvas]

Part 17: Description of the Lower World (adhaloka) < [Chapter III - The initiation and omniscience of Ajita]

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