Dr. N.L. Kachhara
Loka is finite space in the centre of infinite akasa. Loka has a shape and volume. The Swetambara and Digambara literature differ in respect of the shape of loka. The shape of loka according to Digambara tradition is shown in fig 6.1. It is a prismatic shape having three divisions upper loka, middle loka and lower loka. The shape of upper loka comprises of two trapezoidal prisms, one with a base of 5 raju, top of 1 raju, height of 3.5 raju and width of 7 raju, and the other with a base of 1 raju, top 5 raju, height 3.5 raju and width 7 raju. The lower loka prism has a base of 7 raju, top of 1 raju, height of 7 raju and width of 7 raju. The total height of loka is 14 raju and the width is uniform at every height, equal to 7 raju. As per this shape the volumes of upper loka and lower loka are 147 cubic raju and 196 cubic raju respectively and the volume of whole loka is 343 cubic raju. Raju is a very large distance whose exact value is difficult to determine. One estimate puts its value equal to 1.45x1021 miles but this is not generally accepted, the actual value may be much higher.
According to Swetambara tradition the shape of loka is pyramid cal as shown in fig 6.2. The upper loka consists of two pyramids and the lower loka of one pyramid having dimensions as shown in the figure. At any height the dimensions of length and width are equal. The height of upper and lower loka is 7 raju each and the total height is 14 raju. The lower loka is 7x7 raju at the bottom and 1x1 raju at the top. The upper loka has dimensions of 5x5 raju at the height of brahm loka. Swetambara agree that the volume of upper and lower loka are 147 cubic raju and 196 cubic raju respectively and the total volume is 343 cubic raju but the shape and dimensions accepted by them do not provide these values. Muni Mehandra Kumar proposed that by assuming curved side surfaces of pyramids the volumes could be corrected. Assuming the surface curves to be cubic polynomial he derived equations for the three pyramid surface curves so that the volume of the lower loka is 196 cubic raju and that of upper loka is 147 cubic raju.
A third kind of loka is also obtained in Jaina scriptures. According to this the loka is trisharavsamputakar which means that the shape of loka is obtained by assembling three bowls of nearly truncated conical shape as shown in fig 6.3. The lower loka is an inverted bowl and two bowls placed one above another constitute the upper loka, the lower one in upright position and the upper one placed inverted over it. The two bowls of the upper loka provide the shape of mridnga, a musical instrument of drum family. The total height of loka is 14 raju and the height of lower loka and upper loka is 7 raju each. The width at the bottom of lower loka is slightly less than 7 raju. The width is 1 raju at middle loka, 5 raju at brahma loka and 1 raju at the top. The cross section of loka at any height is circular as against square in fig 6.2 and rectangular in fig. 6.1
In all three cases the central region of loka is called transnadi, or mobile zone, the abode of mobile organisms. The mobile zone has a spread of 1x1 raju in fig. 6.1 and fig 6.2 and is circular with a diameter of 1 raju in fig. 6.3. The height of mobile zone is 13 raju (leaving 1 raju at bottom) All-mobile beings, including celestial beings and infernal beings, are confined to this zone. Small nano organisms are found all over loka, including the mobile zone. This means that the mobile beings are found in a volume of about 13 cubic raju out of the total volume of 343 cubic raju of loka.
