जम्बुद्वीप

A Jain Cosmographic Map of the Rose‑Apple Continent (Jambudvipa)

Introduction to Jainism The Jain religion centers the practice of nonviolence (ahimsa) and renunciation in order to reach release (moksha) or liberation (siddha) from the cycles of rebirth. Twenty-four perfected teachers, called Jina (meaning “victor” or “conqueror”) or Tirthankara (“ford-crossers”), are revered in Jainism. The historic Jina Mahavira, who lived around 599 BCE, is named the last of these teachers. Jainism arose around the same time and place as Buddhism. While Jain teachings about the origins and ordering of the universe have overlapping characteristics with Buddhism and forms of Hinduism, it also has many unique aspects found only within the Jain tradition. Mathematics that specializes in extremely large numerical calculations have historically been a Jain strength and are showcased in this map. With an active practice transmitted for over 2,500 years today over four million devotees follow the Jain religion making it the sixth-largest following in India.

जम्बुद्वीप

A Jain Cosmographic Map of the Rose‑Apple Continent (Jambudvipa)

Introduction to Jain Cosmology In Jainism, there is no origination point in time or place of the universe nor is there a predicted terminus. The cosmos is eternal and endless and no entity is named in its creation. Within this endlessness, however, are world-spaces (loka-akasha) that are finite. These finite spaces are described in mathematical terms and defined units and are characterized by repetitive symmetries that demonstrate structure and order. The overarching order of both physical and spiritual states are mapped onto the two-fold symmetry of the human body projected as the cosmic-body (loka-purusha).

Map of the Rose-Apple Continent | 19th century. Gujarat, India. Color on cloth;
77.5 x 80 cm, MacLean Collection SID 25250.

Introduction to Jain Cosmology [continued] Defined physical-spiritual worlds that are mapped onto the cosmic-body (loka-purusha) include worlds for liberated souls (siddha-shila) located at the forehead. Numerous heavens (urdhva-loka) are across the torso. The middle world (madhya-loka) at the belly, is comprised of the Two-and-a-Half Continents (Adhaidvipa) whose center is the Rose Apple Continent (Jambudvipa). Finally, seven levels of hells (adho-loka) are the lower body.

Diagrams of the Universe: The Two-and-a-Half Continents, the Universe in the Shape of a Person, and the Seven Levels of Hell | 1613. Western India, Gujarat. Gum tempera, ink, and gold on cloth; 83.8 x 155 cm (33 x 61 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund 2018.201

Introduction to Jain Cosmology [continued] The MacLean Collection has two additional 19th century maps of the Two and Half Continents (Adaidvipa; अदाही द्विप) where the Rose-Apple Continent (Jambudvipa; जम्बुद्वीप) is at the center. Both were painted on cloth and likely made in Gujarat, India

(Left) Adaidvipa | 20th century. India, Gujarat. Color on cloth; 73 x 72.4 cm. MacLean Collection, MC25390.
(Right) Adaidvipa | 20th century. India, Gujarat. Color on cloth; 74 x 72.4 cm. MacLean Collection, MC25253.

Introduction to Jain Cosmology [continued] These hand-painted maps are only a portion of a middle world (madhya-loka). The Two and Half Continents (Adaidvipa; अदाही द्विप) that surround the Rose-Apple Continent (Jambudvipa; जम्बुद्वीप), are all maps that illustrate ideals of a physical world connected to a spiritual world that is a land of action (karma-bhumi) where humanity resides. These paintings were made in India and are based on earlier examples that survive from the fifteenth century.

(Left)Map of the Rose-Apple Continent | 19th century. Gujarat, India. Color on cloth; 77.5 x 80 cm, MacLean Collection SID 25250.
(Top right) Adaidvipa | 20th century. India, Gujarat. Color on cloth; 73 x 72.4 cm. MacLean Collection, MC25390.
(Bottom right) Adaidvipa | 20th century. India, Gujarat. Color on cloth; 74 x 72.4 cm. MacLean Collection, MC25253.

Described in poetry, the Continent of Jambudvipa is “Round as a potter’s wheel…with Mount Meru at its navel.” At the center the yellow disk with a red border is inscribed Meru using the devanagari script. Barely touching the center yellow disk are the four Gajadanta, literally “Elephant Tusk” shaped mountains that surround Mount Meru. At north (here shown in the upper right) is the green mountain called (and inscribed) Saladanta. To the east (lower right) is the red mountain Saumanasa. The red mountain of the south (lower left) is Vindhyachala. And the yellow mountain of the west (upper left) is Gandhamadana. The green band (here at the top) represents the northern Nila Mountain Range. The red band (here at the bottom) is the southern Nisadha Mountain Range.

At Center [Continued] In the upper right, (virtual north), depicted as a green leafed tree, is the sacred Jambu-vrksha, or rose-apple tree. Texts describe this not as a literal tree, but as a self-arising rock formation that has the form of a tree. The tree in the opposite corner is Samali-vrksha.The upper left also names Uttarakuru, the north pleasure lands, the river Sita, and the fields Prapata ksetra kuru. The lower right is inscribed Devakuru that are the south pleasure lands within which are the named river Sitoda and the fields Prapata ksetra kuru. Quoting textual descriptions these are the “Most exalted of the pleasure lands… where the temporal conditions create a realm of supreme plenty and happiness.” The text orientation for these annotations is inconsistent. Devanagari script is written with a top line. These four arrows demonstrate the correct orientation of text. The final text section names this land Mahavideha. The center two blue-colored rivers stream forth in four directions. From the peak of the green northern mountain, the Sita river flows both north and east. From the red southern mountain the Sitodha river flows both south and west. Six connected lakes at north and south cradle the river waters

Eastern provinces of Mahavideha Shifting focus only to the Eastern provinces of Mahavideha, we can follow the course of the Sita river that flows out from the center to connect the six East Vibhangha rivers which are named and numbered in this sequence. These rivers not only separate the sixteen provinces, but also are true to geologic activity, as the eroding action of rivers physically creates valleys between mountains.

Western provinces of Mahavideha Zooming out and rotating the map counter-clockwise 90 degrees shifts focus to Mahavideha’s western provinces.

In the West, the Sitoda river emerges from the center filling the six West Vibhangha rivers each with unique names and continuing the numeric sequence from the Eastern provinces. These rivers separate sixteen provinces on the western side.

Northern Water Courses and Mountains To read the inscriptions of the northern water courses, turn the map upside down. East and west are reversed. The north is now at the bottom. The mountains, lakes and rivers are formed in an identical manner in the north, center and south as rivers flow out from the central mountains through rectangular lakes. The rivers are in the valleys between the mountain ranges. The green band is the Nila mountain range. The red band is the Rukmin mountain range. The yellow band is the Sikharin mountain range. Within each mountain range are numeric units of measurements that detail the scale of each. The unit is called yojana. Each yojana equals between eight to nine miles (12.8 - 14.5 kilometers).

Surrounding Ocean Lavana-samudra, a salt ocean, surrounds the continent of Jambudvipa. At the four sides are vast golden vessels (annotated kalasha here, but also called patala). Four smaller examples are at the corners. These vessels control the tides by filling and emptying air and water as effected through the strength of the wind and the movements of the sea.

Southern Sea The direction name, “Dakshina-kalasha” (Southern Vase) is written on the largest vessel with the number 10,000 (per implied unit volume). The surrounding 13 yellow disks represent celestial bodies that assist tidal actions. Sea animals such as an elephant-headed and a human-headed fish, join a gharial crocodile and three other fish.Outside the ocean’s boundaries the text “South” is inscribed along with numerical units for scale of this portion of the cosmos.

Western Sea Proceeding counter-clockwise, we arrive at the West illustrated by a red crescent (appropriate to the setting sun) and golden disk (of a full moon) with a turtle, two fish, and a crocodile. If you compare a photograph of Gharial crocodiles (that are native to India) with this painting, you can see that not all of the sea life is imaginary.

Gharial crocodile (Gavialis gangeticus)

Northern Sea Continuing to the northern salty sea we find a pig-faced fish, a cat-faced fish, and thee additional fish as well as respective numeric and directional annotations.

Eastern Sea Finally, arriving at the east is a red sun disk (appropriate for the direction of the dawn) and golden crescent moon flanked by three fish and a crocodile.

Returning to the Eastern Provinces Returning to the eastern provinces of Mahavideha, the oscillation of the writing becomes even more complex. For example, the eight, red, Vaksara mountain ranges–four in each subsection–have unique names written in opposing directions. They are numbered non-continuously. The sixteen times two (or 32) individually titled provinces of the east continue in this direction. Changing textual orientation, oriented first to the north, then to the south sixteen counts of units span these regions.

Returning to the Western Provinces In the west, in red, are named mountain regions written in opposition and numbered non-contiguously. The named western regions of Mahavideha, increasing in continuous numbers from the east, are in the same sequence. The orientation for the named units is in opposition and continues numbering.

Mountain Ranges and Subcontinents Already named were the northern mountain ranges: the Nila, Rukmin, and Sikharin, but there are also the southern mountain ranges: the Nisadha, the Mahahimavan महाहिमवनती, and the Himavan हिमावन. We explored the Varsha subcontinents of Mahavideha, but not the other subcontinents of Airavata, Harianayavata, Ramyaka, Hari, Haimavata, and Bharata, as they are abbreviated and one must mentally extrapolate the same ordered system from the detail of center to the extremities.

Conclusion

This map of Jambudvipa (जम्बुद्वीप) is considered only the center detail or the first continent of another frequently illustrated map of "Two and Half Continents" (Adaidvipa; अदाही द्विप) from which an additional eighty-seven and a half named continents and oceans are extrapolated from the center.

These maps were made to instruct and remind knowledgeable viewers how fortunate we are to access Jain teachings that assist one’s ability to escape the suffering of existence that harms other living things.

Adaidvipa | 20th century. India, Gujarat. Color on cloth;
73 x 72.4 cm. MacLean Collection, MC25390.

Map of the Rose-Apple Continent | 19th century. Gujarat, India. Color on cloth; 77.5 x 80 cm, MacLean Collection SID 25250.

Adaidvipa | 20th century. India, Gujarat. Color on cloth; 74 x 72.4 cm. MacLean Collection, MC25253.