Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra

by Helen M. Johnson | 1931 | 742,503 words

This page describes Description of Pushkaradvipa which is the twenty-seventh part of chapter III of the English translation of the Ajitanatha-caritra, contained within the “Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra”: a massive Jain narrative relgious text composed by Hemacandra in the 12th century. Ajitanatha in jainism is the second Tirthankara (Jina) and one of the 63 illustrious beings or worthy persons.

Part 27: Description of Puṣkaradvīpa

The definition of names and objects—Iṣvākāra, Meru, etc.—which was given for Dhātakī is true also for half of Puṣkara. But in this half of Puṣkara the divisions of the country, etc., are known to be twice as large as the divisions of the country, etc., of Dhātakīkhaṇḍa.

There are 4 small Merus in Dhātakī and half of Puṣkara, smaller than Meru by 15,000 yojanas. At the ground their diameter is less than Meru’s by 600 yojanas. Their first division is no less than big Meru’s. The second is smaller by 7,000 yojanas; the third by 8,000.[1] Bhadraśāla and Nandana are like Meru’s. The grove Saumanasa, 500 yojanas wide, is 55,500 yojanas above. Pāṇḍaka, 494 yojanas wide, is 28,000 yojanas above. The diameter at the top and bottom, and the foundation are equal to the large Meru’s, and the crest is also equal to its.

So, this is the Human World, 2½ continents, 2 oceans, 35 zones, 5 Merus, 35 zone-mountains, 5 Devakurus, 5 Uttarakurus, and 160 provinces.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

I.e., they are 85,000 yojanas in total height—with 1000 underground. The first section is 500, the second 55,500, and the third 28,000 yojanas. The diameter at the base is 9,400 yojanas.

 
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