Alternative spellings of this word include Ruchakadvipa.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Jainism

Rucakadvīpa (रुचकद्वीप) is one of the continents (dvīpa) of the middle-world (madhyaloka), encircled by the ocean named Rucakasamudra (or simply Rucaka), according to Jain cosmology. The middle-world contains innumerable concentric dvīpas and, as opposed to the upper-world (adhaloka) and the lower-world (ūrdhvaloka), is the only world where humans can be born. Rucakadvīpa is also known as plainly Rucaka.

Rucakadvīpa is recorded in ancient Jaina canonical texts dealing with cosmology and geography of the universe. Examples of such texts are the Saṃgrahaṇīratna in the Śvetāmbara tradition or the Tiloyapannatti and the Trilokasāra in the Digambara tradition.

Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

Rucakadvīpa (रुचकद्वीप) is the name of a continent, situated in the “middle world” (madhyaloka), according to chapter 2.3 [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:—“Then the ocean Nandīśvara surrounds Nandīśvara; after that Aruṇadvīpa and Aruṇoda. Then come Aruṇavaradvīpa and the ocean by that name; next Aruṇābhāsa and Aruṇābhāsa Ocean. Then Kuṇḍaladvīpa and the ocean Kuṇḍaloda come next; then Rucakadvīpa and Rucaka Ocean. The oceans and continents with these auspicious names are each twice as large as the preceding one. Of these the last is the ocean Svayambhūramaṇa”.

Note: Rucakadvīpa is the name of a continent where there is a circular mountain-ranges Rucaka. On this in the four directions are 4 temples, and on both sides of each temple are 4 mountain peaks, making 8 peaks in each direction. Each peak is inhabited by a Dikkumārī.—(cf. ‘Die Kosmographie der Inder’ pp. 257f).

 

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: Rucaka, Dvipa.

Full-text (+33): Rucaka, Rucakagiri, Rupamshuka, Rucakasamudra, Rupakavati, Dikkumari, Rupamshika, Rupa, Suprabuddha, Iladevi, Suradevi, Navamika, Citragupta, Samahara, Supradatta, Ekanasa, Alambusha, Mishrakeshi, Sarvaprabha, Hri.

Relevant text

Search found 1 books and stories containing Rucakadvipa, Rucakadvīpa, Rucaka-dvipa, Rucaka-dvīpa; (plurals include: Rucakadvipas, Rucakadvīpas, dvipas, dvīpas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)

Part 5: Birth-ceremonies of Śītala < [Chapter VIII - Śītalanāthacaritra]

Part 4: Birth-rites of Śānti < [Chapter V - Twelfth incarnation as Śānti]

Part 31: Description of Nandīśvara < [Chapter III - The initiation and omniscience of Ajita]

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