43-538: Siddhashila is an area in Jain cosmology at the apex of the universe, which is where the Jains believe people who have become arihants and tirthankaras go after they die and attain moksha . Such people are called siddhas after they discard their mortal body, hence the origin of the term. This Jainism -related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Jain cosmology Jain cosmology
86-420: A creator made the world. The doctrine that the world was created is ill advised and should be rejected. If God created the world, where was he before the creation? If you say he was transcendent then and needed no support, where is he now? How could God have made this world without any raw material? If you say that he made this first, and then the world, you are faced with an endless regression. According to Jains,
129-458: A few other important classes of 106 persons are recognized: Mount Meru Mount Meru ( Sanskrit / Pali : मेरु), also known as Sumeru , Sineru , or Mahāmeru , is the sacred five-peaked mountain of Hindu , Jain , and Buddhist cosmology and is considered to be the centre of all the physical , metaphysical , and spiritual universes. The mountain is also mentioned in some scriptures of non-Indian based religions such as Taoism , which
172-467: A mind. These can be under-developed or developed, a total of 14. Human beings can get any form of existence, but can only attain salvation in a human form. The early Jains contemplated the nature of the earth and universe. They developed a detailed hypothesis on the various aspects of astronomy and cosmology. According to the Jain texts, the universe is divided into 3 parts: The following Upanga āgamas describe
215-454: Is a common feature of Chinese pagodas . The highest point (the finial bud) on the pyatthat , a Burmese-style multi-tiered roof, represents Mount Meru. Etymologically, 'meru' in Sanskrit means 'high'. The proper name of the mountain is Meru (Sanskrit: Meruparvata ), to which is added the approbatory prefix su- , resulting in the meaning "excellent Mount Meru" or "sublime Mount Meru". Meru
258-443: Is a constant increase and decrease in the breadth, and the space is 239 cubic Rajlok . Apart from the apex, which is the abode of liberated beings, the universe is divided into three parts. The world is surrounded by three atmospheres: dense-water, dense-wind and thin-wind. It is then surrounded by an infinitely large non-world which is completely empty. The whole world is said to be filled with living beings. In all three parts, there
301-589: Is also the name of the central bead in a mālā . In other languages, Mount Meru is pronounced: The dimensions attributed to Mount Meru — which all refer to it as a part of the Cosmic Ocean , along with several other statements that describe it in geographically vague terms (e.g., "the Sun along with all the planets circle the mountain") — make the determination of its location most difficult, according to most scholars. Several researchers identify Mount Meru or Sumeru with
344-718: Is an emperor of the world and lord of the material realm. Though he possesses worldly power, he often finds his ambitions dwarfed by the vastness of the cosmos. Jain puranas give a list of twelve chakravartins (universal monarchs). They are golden in complexion. One of the chakravartins mentioned in Jain scriptures is Bharata Chakravartin . Jain texts like Harivamsa Purana and Hindu Texts like Vishnu Purana state that Indian subcontinent came to be known as Bharata varsha in his memory. There are nine sets of balabhadra , narayana , and pratinarayana . The balabhadra and narayana are brothers. Balabhadra are nonviolent heroes, narayana are violent heroes, and pratinarayana
387-477: Is at the centre of the world surrounded by Jambūdvīpa , in the form of a circle forming a diameter of 100,000 yojanas. There are two sets of sun, moon, and stars revolving around Mount Meru; while one set works, the other set rests behind Mount Meru. Every Tirthankara is taken to the summit of Meru by Indra shortly after his birth, after putting the Tirthankara child's mother into a deep slumber. There, he
430-468: Is bathed and anointed with precious unctions. Indra and other Devas celebrate his birth. The concept of a holy mountain surrounded by various circles was incorporated into ancient Hindu temple architecture with a Shikhara ( Śikhara ) — a Sanskrit word translating literally to "peak" or "summit". Early examples of this style can be found at the Harshat Mata Temple and Harshnath Temple from
473-465: Is broad at the top, narrow at the middle and once again becomes broad at the bottom. According to Jains, the Universe is made up of six simple and eternal substances called dravya which are broadly categorized under Jiva (Living Substances) and Ajiva (Non Living Substances) as follows: Jīva (Living Substances) Ajīva (Non-Living Substances) Conventional time ( vyavahāra kāla ) is perceived by
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#1732851093812516-472: Is further sub-divided into six aras or epochs of unequal periods. Currently, the time cycle is in avasarpiṇī or descending phase with the following epochs. In utsarpiṇī the order of the eras is reversed. Starting from duṣamā-duṣamā , it ends with suṣamā-suṣamā and thus this never ending cycle continues. By the calculation of height, we are 11,000 years into the Duḥṣamā ara. Each of these aras progress into
559-481: Is possible and the Tirthankaras preach the Jain doctrine. The other three zones, Ramyaka Kshetra, Hairanyavata Kshetra, and Haimavata Kshetra are known as akarmabhumi or bhogabhumi as humans live a sinless life of pleasure and no religion or liberation is possible. Nandishvara Dvipa is not the edge of cosmos, but it is beyond the reach of humans. Humans can reside only on Jambudvipa , Dhatatikhanda Dvipa , and
602-566: Is revered as the twenty fourth tīrthankara of avasarpiṇī . Jain texts state that Jainism has always existed and will always exist. During each motion of the half-cycle of the wheel of time, 63 Śalākāpuruṣa or 63 illustrious men, consisting of the 24 Tīrthaṅkaras and their contemporaries regularly appear. The Jain universal or legendary history is basically a compilation of the deeds of these illustrious men. They are categorised as follows: Balabhadra and Narayana are half brothers who jointly rule over three continents. Besides these,
645-442: Is seven Rajlok s long at the bottom and decreases gradually towards the middle, where it is one Rajlok long . The width then increases gradually until it is five Rajloks long and again decreases until it is one Rajlok long. The apex of the universe is one Rajlok long, one Rajlok wide and eight Rajloks high. The total space of the world is thus 343 cubic Rajlok s. The Svetambara view differs slightly and postulates that there
688-504: Is the description of the shape and functioning of the Universe ( loka ) and its constituents (such as living beings, matter, space, time etc.) according to Jainism . Jain cosmology considers the universe as an uncreated entity that has existed since infinity with neither beginning nor end. Jain texts describe the shape of the universe as similar to a man standing with legs apart and arms resting on his waist. This Universe, according to Jainism,
731-475: Is the existence of very small living beings called nigoda. Nigoda are of two types: nitya-nigoda and Itara-nigoda. Nitya-nigoda are those which will reincarnate as nigoda throughout eternity, where as Itara-nigoda will be reborn as other beings. The mobile region of universe (Trasnaadi) is one Rajlok wide, one Rajlok broad and fourteen Rajlok s high. Within this region, there are animals and plants everywhere, where as human beings are restricted to 2 continents of
774-629: The Earth's circumference is 3,200 yojanas according to Varahamihira and slightly less so in the Aryabhatiya , but is said to be 5,026.5 yojanas in the Suryasiddhānta. The Matsya Purana and the Bhagavata Purana , along with some other Hindu texts, consistently give the height of 84,000 yojanas to Mount Meru, which translates into 672,000 miles or 1,082,000 kilometers. The Sun and Moon along with all
817-450: The Ganges and flow to the earth. The Vayu Purana describes similarly with the mountain located close to a lake consisting of clear water with lotuses and lilies decked with water birds. Bhagavata Purana places Kailash as located south of Mount Meru. Skanda Purana mentions that the mountain is located amongst the highest peaks, perpetually covered with snow. Mount Meru was said to be
860-592: The Long Āgama Sutra . Trāyastriṃśa is at its peak, where Śakra resides. The Sun and the Moon revolve around Mount Meru, and as the Sun passes behind it, it becomes nighttime. The mountain has four faces — each one made of a different material; the northern face is made of gold , the eastern one is made of crystal , the southern one is made of lapis lazuli , and the western one is made of ruby . In Vajrayāna , maṇḍala offerings often include Mount Meru, as they in part represent
903-564: The Mahabharata , the Pandavas along with their wife Draupadi , traveled towards the summit of the mountain as a means to reach the heaven but only Yudhishthira who was accompanied by a dog, was able to make it. The Hindu epic Ramayana describes Kailash and Lake Manasarovar located in the Mount Meru as places unlike anywhere in the world. Vishnu Purana states that Meru is a pillar of
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#1732851093812946-548: The Pamirs , northwest of Kashmir . The Suryasiddhanta mentions that Mt. Meru lies at the centre of the Earth ("bhuva-madhya") in the land of the Jambunad ( Jambudvīpa ). Narapatijayacharyasvarodaya , a ninth-century text, based on mostly unpublished texts of Yāmal Tantr, mentions: Several versions of cosmology can be found in existing Hindu texts. In all of them, cosmologically,
989-501: The Anuttara abodes, at the apex of the universe is the realm of the liberated souls, the perfected omniscient and blissful beings, who are venerated by the Jains. Madhya Loka consists of 900 yojanas above and 900 yojanas below earth surface. It is inhabited by: Madhyaloka consists of many continent-islands surrounded by oceans, first eight whose names are: Mount Meru (also Sumeru ) is at
1032-1048: The Jain cosmology and geography in a great detail: Additionally, the following texts describe the Jain cosmology and related topics in detail: The Upper World (Urdhva Loka) is divided into different abodes and are the realms of the heavenly beings (Gods) who are non-liberated souls. The Upper World is divided into sixteen Kalpas, nine Graiveyaka, nine Anudisha, and five Anuttara abodes: The sixteen Kalpa abodes are: Saudharma, Aishana, Sanatkumara, Mahendra, Brahma, Brahmottara, Lantava, Kapishta, Shukra, Mahashukra, Shatara, Sahasrara, Anata, Pranata, Arana, and Achyuta. The nine Graiveyaka abodes are Sudarshana, Amogha, Suprabuddha, Yashodhara, Subhadra, Suvishala, Sumanasa, Saumanasa. and Pritikara. The nine Anudisha abodes are Aditya, Archi, Archimalini, Vaira, Vairochana, Sauma, Saumarupa, Arka, and Sphatika. The five Anuttara abodes are Vijaya, Vaijayanta, Jayanta, Aparajita, and Sarvarthasiddhi. The sixteen heavens in Devalokas are also called Kalpas and
1075-550: The Meru mountain was also described as being surrounded by Mandrachala Mountain to the east, Suparshva Mountain to the west, Kumuda Mountain to the north, and Kailasha to the south. According to Buddhist cosmology, Mount Meru (or Sumeru) is at the centre of the world, and Jambūdvīpa is south of it. It is 80,000 yojanas wide and 80,000 yojanas high according to the Abhidharmakośabhāṣyam and 84,000 yojanas high according to
1118-537: The centre of the world surrounded by Jambūdvīpa , in form of a circle forming a diameter of 100,000 yojanas. There are two sets of sun, moon and stars revolving around Mount Meru; while one set works, the other set rests behind the Mount Meru. The Jambūdvīpa continent has 6 mighty mountains, dividing the continent into 7 zones (kshetras). The names of these zones are: The three zones of Bharata Kshetra, Mahavideha Kshetra, and Airavata Kshetra are also known as karmabhumi because practice of austerities and liberation
1161-417: The descending time cycle, occurring continuously after each other. Utsarpiṇī is a period of progressive prosperity and happiness where the time spans and ages are at an increasing scale, while Avsarpiṇī is a period of increasing sorrow and immorality with decline in timespans of the epochs. Each of this half time cycle consisting of innumerable period of time (measured in sagaropama and palyopama years)
1204-567: The entire universe. It is also believed that Mount Meru is the home of the Buddha Cakrasaṃvara . Hindus believe Mount Meru to be a stairway to Svarga , a heaven where the devas reside. Meru is considered as the center of the universe and is described as 84,000 yojanas high, about 1,082,000 km (672,000 mi), which would be 85 times the Earth's diameter. One yojana can be taken to mean about 11.5 km (9 miles), though its magnitude seems to differ over periods — for example,
1247-543: The gods Brahma and Vishnu to fill Java with human beings. However, at that time, Java island was floating freely on the ocean, always tumbling and shaking. To stop the island's movement, the gods decided to nail it to the Earth by moving the part of Mahameru in Jambudvipa ( India ) and attaching it to Java. The resulting mountain is Mount Semeru , the tallest mountain in Java. According to Jain cosmology, Mount Meru (or Sumeru )
1290-408: The human realm to discover and teach the Jain doctrine appropriate for that era. The word tīrthankara signifies the founder of a tirtha , which means a fordable passage across a sea. The tīrthaṅkaras show the 'fordable path' across the sea of interminable births and deaths. Rishabhanatha is said to be the first tīrthankara of the present half-cycle ( avasarpiṇī ). Mahāvīra (6th century BC)
1333-420: The impulse of their own karmas . According to Jain texts, sixty-three illustrious beings, called śalākāpuruṣas , are born on this earth in every Dukhama-sukhamā ara . The Jain universal history is a compilation of the deeds of these illustrious persons. They comprise twenty-four Tīrthaṅkaras , twelve chakravartins , nine balabhadra , nine narayana , and nine pratinarayana . A chakravartī
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1376-429: The inner half of Pushkara Dvipa . The lower world consists of seven hells , which are inhabited by Bhavanpati demigods and the hellish beings. Hellish beings reside in the following hells: According to Jainism, time is beginningless and eternal. The Kālacakra , the cosmic wheel of time, rotates ceaselessly. The wheel of time is divided into two half-rotations, Utsarpiṇī or ascending time cycle and Avasarpiṇī ,
1419-475: The middle world. The beings inhabiting the lower world are called Narak (Hellish beings). The Deva (roughly demi-gods) live in the whole of the top and middle worlds, and top three realms of the lower world. Living beings are divided in fourteen classes (Jivasthana) : Fine beings with one sense, crude beings with one sense, beings with two senses, beings with three senses, beings with four senses, beings with five senses and no mind, and beings with five senses and
1462-496: The mountain gleans of gold when the rays of the sun fall on it and is said to contain lovely woods, lakes, rivers adorned with fruit trees, precious stones and life saving herbs. It also describes Meru as the means to reach heaven and only a being without any sins would be able to scale it. Meru is also said to be the residence of Kubera who lives near a golden gate with a lake called Alaka adorned with golden lotuses and sweet tasting water from which Mandakini river arises. As per
1505-429: The next phase seamlessly without any apocalyptic consequences. The increase or decrease in the happiness, life spans and length of people and general moral conduct of the society changes in a phased and graded manner as the time passes. No divine or supernatural beings are credited or responsible with these spontaneous temporal changes, either in a creative or overseeing role, rather human beings and creatures are born under
1548-568: The planets revolve around Mount Meru which connects the earth with the under world and heaven with Shiva residing on top of the mountain at Kailasha . Gods and devas are described as frequenting Mount Meru. According to the Mahabharata , Meru is located amidst the Himavat range between Malayavat and Gandhamadhana mountains. Some scriptures indicate that Shiva resides in a horn of the mountains called as Saivatra . Mahabharata further states that
1591-458: The residence of King Padmaja Brahma in antiquity. This mythical mountain of gods was mentioned in the Tantu Pagelaran , an Old Javanese manuscript written in the 15th-century Majapahit period. The manuscript describes the mythical origin of the island of Java , as well as the legendary movement of portions of Mount Meru to Java. The manuscript explains that Batara Guru ( Shiva ) ordered
1634-781: The rest are called Kalpatitas. Those living in Kalpatitas are called Ahamindra and are equal in grandeur. There is increase with regard to the lifetime, influence of power, happiness, lumination of body, purity in thought-colouration, capacity of the senses and range of clairvoyance in the heavenly beings residing in the higher abodes. But there is decrease with regard to motion, stature, attachment and pride. The higher groups, dwelling in nine Graiveyaka and five Anuttara abodes are independent and dwell in their own vehicles. The Anuttara souls attain liberation within one or two lifetimes. The lower groups, organized like earthly kingdoms—rulers (Indra), counselors, guards, queens, followers, armies etc. Above
1677-432: The senses through the transformations and modifications of substances. Real time ( niścaya kāla ), however, is the cause of imperceptible, minute changes (called vartanā ) that go on incessantly in all substances. The Jain doctrine postulates an eternal and ever-existing world which works on universal natural laws. The existence of a creator deity is overwhelmingly opposed in the Jain doctrine. Some foolish men declare that
1720-420: The universe has a firm and an unalterable shape, which is measured in the Jain texts by means of a unit called Rajlok , which is supposed to be very large. This unit of measurement is the distance covered by a god flying at ten million miles per second for six months. The Digambara sect of Jainism postulates that the universe is fourteen Rajloks high and extends seven Rajloks from north to south. Its breadth
1763-487: The villains. According to the legends, the narayana ultimately kill the pratinarayana . Of the nine balabhadra , eight attain liberation and the last goes to heaven. On death, the narayana go to hell because of their violent exploits, even if these were intended to uphold righteousness. Jain cosmology divides the worldly cycle of time into two parts ( avasarpiṇī and utsarpiṇī ). According to Jain belief, in every half-cycle of time, twenty-four tīrthaṅkaras are born in
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1806-418: The world, located at the heart of six mountain ranges symbolizing a lotus . It also states that the four faces of Mount Kailash are made of crystal , ruby , gold , and lapis lazuli . It further talks about Shiva sitting in a lotus position, engaged in deep meditation within the confines of the mountain. The mountain is home to four lakes, whose water is shared by the gods and four rivers that originate from
1849-612: Was influenced by the arrival of Buddhism in China. There is no clear identification of Mount Meru with a particular geophysical location but it is always located in the Himalayan or Aravalli ranges. But it is located in the middle of the four great continents (Pubbavideha Dīpa, Uttarakuru Dīpa, Amaragoyāna Dīpa, Jambu Dīpa) of the cosmo. Many famous Hindu , Jain , and Buddhist temples have been built as symbolic representations of this mountain. The "Sumeru Throne" zh:须弥座 xūmízuò style base
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