Jain Bhugol - Book Summary | JainGPT

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Jain Bhugol" by Acharya Muni Nyayavijay, based on the provided pages:

Title: Jain Bhugol (Jain Geography) Author: Acharya Muni Nyayavijay Publisher: Z_Jain_Sahitya_Sambandhi_Lekhono_Sangraha_005198_HR.pdf Catalog Link: https://jainqq.org/explore/249571/1

Core Purpose:

The author, Acharya Muni Nyayavijay, states that this essay was written to analyze and accurately describe ancient Jain geography in the context of modern geographical understanding. He aims to highlight the similarities and differences between ancient and modern geographical beliefs, acknowledging the challenges in equating them but emphasizing the pursuit of truth.

Fundamental Jain Cosmological Concepts:

Infinite Space (Akasha): The universe is composed of infinite space (Ananta Akasha).
Loka Akasha (World-Space): Within the infinite space, there is a finite region called Loka Akasha, which contains all the substances and realms of existence.
Humanoid Form of Loka Akasha: The Loka Akasha is described as being shaped like a cosmic Purusha (cosmic man) standing upright with hands on the hips.
- Its total height is fourteen Rajus.
- Its width varies: seven Rajus at the bottom, one Raju at the navel, about five Rajus at the chest and shoulder, and one Raju at the crown.
Aloka Akasha: The space outside the Loka Akasha is called Aloka Akasha, which is empty and devoid of any substances. Aloka Akasha has infinite regions, while Loka Akasha has innumerable regions.
Key Substances (Dravyas): The universe is populated by essential substances like Jiva (soul), Dharma (principle of motion), Adharma (principle of rest), Pudgala (matter), and Akasha (space).

Structure of the Loka Akasha (Cosmic Geography):

The Loka Akasha is divided into various realms:

Lower Realms (Naraka Sthanas): Below the realm of humans (Mrutyu Lok), there are the Asura Sthan (Naga Lok) followed by seven Naraka Sthanas: Ratna Prabha, Sharkara Prabha, Valuka Prabha, Panka Prabha, Dhuma Prabha, Tama Prabha, and Tamastama Prabha.
Middle Realm (Mrutyu Lok): At the navel region of the cosmic Purusha, the realm of humans (Mrutyu Lok) or the Earth is situated.
Upper Realms (Deva Lokas): Above the Mrutyu Lok:
- The Jyotisha Chakra (celestial bodies like the sun, moon, stars) is located 700 to 900 Yojanas above the Earth.
- Above the Jyotisha Chakra are the twelve Deva Lokas (celestial abodes) and the residences of nine Laukika Devas.
- The Naivayika Deva Sthana is in the neck region of the cosmic Purusha.
- The five Anuttara Deva Sthanas are in the mouth region.
- The Siddha Shila (Abode of the Liberated Souls) is at the forehead/crown region.

Comparison with Puranic and Other Ancient Beliefs:

The author extensively compares Jain geographical concepts with those found in Hindu Puranas and other ancient traditions, noting significant similarities:

Cosmic Man Analogy: The Puranas also use the analogy of a cosmic being (Virat Purusha, Krishna, Brahma) whose body parts correspond to different realms of the universe. For instance, the navel is linked to the Earth, the head to heaven, and the feet to the ground.
Structure of the Universe: Both Jain and Puranic texts describe a multi-layered universe with heavenly abodes above and hellish realms below. The Puranic descriptions of the Earth being formed from the navel, the sky from the head, and the earth from the feet of the cosmic being mirror the Jain concept of the Purusha-shaped Loka Akasha.
Jambudvipa: The concept of Jambudvipa (the central continent) and Mount Meru at its center is also present in Puranic literature, with descriptions of surrounding continents and oceans. While the names and exact measurements may differ slightly, the overall structural idea is similar.
Earth's Stability: A significant point of comparison is the ancient belief in a stationary Earth. The text quotes Vedic verses (Rig Veda) and references other ancient texts that describe the Earth as stable and unmoving, with the sun revolving around it. This contrasts with the modern heliocentric view.

The Earth and its Foundation:

Earth's Nature: The Earth (Mrutyu Lok) is described as a solid, flat layer of earth.
Ancient Belief in a Stable Earth: The author emphasizes that ancient texts, including Jain scriptures, consistently portray the Earth as stable. This belief was prevalent until the advent of modern scientific discoveries.
Comparison with Other Traditions: The text notes that the Bible also expresses a similar belief in a stable Earth, with verses stating "the Earth is established; it cannot be moved" and the Earth's foundations being on the sea. The Quran is mentioned as suggesting the Earth rests on a bull's horns. Other traditions mention various foundations like a cow's horns, a bull, a tortoise, a serpent, or even abstract principles like "Dharma" (righteousness).
Jain Explanation for Stability: Jain philosophy offers a unique explanation for the Earth's stability. It posits that the Earth rests on layers of increasingly dense atmosphere: a thin gas (tan vayu), a dense gas (ghan vayu), and then a solidified liquid, like ice (ghanodadhi). This provides a stable base capable of supporting weight. This is supported by observations of how air density changes with altitude and how clouds and water can remain suspended.
Contradictory Puranic Views on Foundation: The author points out that Puranic texts present a variety of, and sometimes contradictory, views on what supports the Earth, highlighting the debate even within those traditions.

Jambudvipa and its Dimensions:

Jain Description: The central continent, Jambudvipa, is described as having a length of one lakh Yojanas. Mount Meru, a significant mountain, is at its center, reaching a height of one lakh Yojanas. The continent is divided by rivers and mountains into various regions (Kshetras) like Bharat, Mahavideh, Airavata, Hari, etc., where humans reside.
Puranic Description: Puranic accounts of Jambudvipa are largely similar, describing it as circular, surrounded by the Lavana Samudra (salt ocean), with Mount Meru at the center and various Kshetras. Minor differences in names and measurements are noted.
Subsequent Continents and Oceans: The text details the arrangement of subsequent continents (dvipas) and oceans, with each successive landmass and ocean being double the size of the previous one. These include the Lavana Samudra, Ghataki Dvipa, Kala Samudra, Pushkara Dvipa, etc.
Human Habitation: Only a portion of these landmasses is considered "human-inhabited" (Manushya Kshetra), primarily the "Adhai Dvipa" (two and a half continents). The outer regions are populated only by tiryak (animals/lower beings).

The Earth's Measurement and Human Habitation:

Jain Measurement: The Manushya Kshetra (human realm) spans the "Adhai Dvipa" and is approximately 45 lakh Yojanas. The Earth's diameter (Mrutyu Lok) is stated to be one Raju, with a height of 1800 Yojanas (900 above and 900 below).
Modern vs. Ancient: The author contrasts this with modern measurements and ancient beliefs, noting the vastness of the Jain cosmological scale.

Bharat Kshetra (India) and its Ancient Names:

Origin of the Name: The region of India within the Bharat Kshetra of Jambudvipa was historically known as Bharatkhand, named after Emperor Bharat, son of Rishabhadeva.
Regional Names: Many regions within India derived their names from the brothers of Emperor Bharat.
Evolution of Names: The text extensively lists ancient names of various regions within and outside India, showing how these names have evolved over time. For instance, areas like Telangana, Odisha, Assam, Punjab, Madras, Bengal, Tibet, Kabul, Russia, Greece, etc., had different ancient appellations.
Geographical Divisions: Bharat Kshetra is described as being divided by the Vaitadhya mountain range and further segmented by rivers like Ganga and Sindhu, creating six sub-regions. The southern part of Bharat, known as the Middle Continent, was called Aryakhand.
Key Locations: Important locations like Vinita city (ancient Ayodhya) and Shatrunjaya mountain are mentioned in relation to Bharat Kshetra.

Types of Yojanas:

The text briefly mentions three types of measurement for Yojana:

Utsedhangula-based: Corresponds somewhat to modern measurements.
Swatmadhangula-based: Varies due to differences in human height across different eras.
Pramanagula-based: Used for continental measurements, being four times longer and two and a half times wider than the Utsedhangula measurement. This is the unit used for measuring the continents and oceans.

Conclusion:

Acharya Muni Nyayavijay concludes by reiterating that the essay aimed to demonstrate the similarities and differences between ancient Jain geography and other ancient traditions, particularly Puranic ones. He emphasizes the vastness of the Jain cosmological scale and the sophisticated philosophical explanations offered for phenomena like the Earth's stability. The author dedicates the credit for this essay to his revered guru, Shri Darshanvijayji, from whose unpublished work on world creation it was extracted.