Some Cosmological Ideas of the Jainas

Summary

Sen’s article explores Jaina cosmological conceptions and compares them with those of Hindu and Buddhist traditions. The Jaina universe is eternal and uncreated, consisting of three regions: upper, middle, and lower worlds. Sen discusses Mount Meru, the Jambūdvīpa continent surrounded by concentric oceans and islands, and the presence of multiple heavens and hells. He examines time cycles (āvasarpinī and utsarpiṇī) and the doctrine of cosmic contraction and expansion. Sen analyzes textual sources such as the Tiloyapaṇṇatti and describes how cosmological diagrams served as mnemonic devices for monastic teaching. He notes that Jain cosmology’s infinite vertical extent reflects ethical ideals: the possibility of rebirth in realms corresponding to one’s karma. The article also highlights the interaction between Jaina cosmology and mathematical astronomy, indicating that while cosmology remained schematic, it influenced the measurement of space and time.