Varunivara, Vāruṇīvara, Varuni-vara: 2 definitions

Introduction:

Varunivara means something in Jainism, Prakrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

[«previous next»] — Varunivara in Jainism glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Jainism

Vāruṇīvara (वारुणीवर) is the shorter name of Vāruṇīvaradvīpa, one of the continents (dvīpa) of the middle-world (madhyaloka) which is encircled by the ocean named Vāruṇodasamudra (or simply Vāruṇoda), 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.

Vāruṇīvara 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

Vāruṇīvara (वारुणीवर) is the name of a continent and ocean, 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:—“On the other side of Mānuṣottara is the second half of Puṣkara. Surrounding Puṣkara is the Puṣkara Ocean twice as large. Then come the continent and ocean Vāruṇīvara; and beyond them the continent and ocean Kṣīravara. Then Ghṛtavara continent and ocean, and Ikṣuvara continent and ocean. Then comes the eighth continent, named Nandīśvara, which resembles heaven”.

General definition book cover
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.

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