The Lokadhātu World System

The World Spheres

Horizontally, there is a sphere of earth 168,000 yojanas deep and boundlessly wide; under that is a sphere of water 3,030 yojanas deep and boundlessly wide; under that is a sphere of air 6,040 yojanas deep and boundlessly wide.

On top of the sphere of earth is an ocean of water 84,000 yojanas deep and boundlessly wide.

In the centre is Mt. Meru which rests on a sphere of gold. (Add to here). Mt. Meru sits in the ocean 84,000 yojanas deep, and sticks out of the ocean 84,000 yojanas high, and does not slant. It is narrow at the bottom and wider at the top.

On the top of Mt. Meru, on each of its four corners is a peak. These four peaks are 700 yojanas tall and slant diagonally over the ocean below.

The Eight Lesser Mountains

Mt. Meru is enclosed by 8 circular mountains which connect also to the sphere of gold. They are each made of the seven jewels: gold, silver, vaiḍūrya, spaṭhika, lohitamuktā, aśmagarbha, and musāragalva. Each mountain is mixed with all of their colours throughout.

The first is called Yugandhara and it sticks up out of the ocean 42,000 yojanas; the second is called Īśādāra and it sticks up out of the ocean 21,000 yojanas; the third is Khadiraka which is 12,000 yojanas; the fourth is Sudarśana which is 6,000 yojanas; the fifth is Aśvakarṇa which is 3,000 yojanas; the sixth is Vinitaka which is 1,200 yojanas; the seventh is Nimindhara which is 600 yojanas, and the eighth is Cakravāḍa which is 300 yojanas.

There is fresh water between each mountain. Each of them are called Śītā. Within those waters grow the four types of lotus flowers: Utpala, Padma, Kumuda, and Puṇḍarīka. The fragrances of each flower fill the whole area.

The flowers are as round and large as chariot wheels, and their roots are as large as chariot axles. Within the roots flow juice that is like milk and is white in colour. This juice is sweet and delicious like fine honey.

The first Śītā is between Mt. Meru and Mt. Yugandhara and is 84,000 yojanas in width; the second Śītā is between Mt. Yugandhara and Īśādāra and is 42,000 yojanas in width; the third is 21,000 yojanas; the fourth is 12,000 yojanas; the fifth is 6,000 yojanas; the sixth is 3,000 yojanas; the seventh is 1,200 yojanas; and the eight is 600 yojanas.

Beyond Mt. Cakravāḍa

There a small circular coast of grass and after that is the Great Ocean. On the north of this grassy coast grows the Great-Tree Kūṭaśālmalī.

Beyond this tree, standing within the Great Ocean, is a continent called Uttakuru. It is 10,000 yojanas in length and width and is shaped like a square when seen from above.

On the eastern side of the grassy coast, standing within the Great Ocean, is a continent called Pūrvavideha. It is 9,000 yojanas in length and width, and it is shaped like a circle when seen from above.

On the western side of the grassy coast, standing within the Great Ocean is a continent called Godānīya. It is 8,000 yojanas in length and width, and it is shaped like a half circle when seen from above; its flat side facing Mt. Meru.

On the southern side of the grassy coast, standing within the Great Ocean is a continent called Jambudvīpa. It is 7,000 yojanas in length and width. It looks like a rhombus when seen from above; the longest side facing Mt. Meru.

Around each of these continents are 80,000 islands. Beyond the Great Ocean are two circular mountains called: Inner Mahācakravāḍan and Outer Mahācakravāḍa.

The Inhabitants of the World System

Humans

Within Jambudvīpa are humans who have a face resembling the continent; within Godānīya are humans who have a face resembling the continent; Pūrvavideha is the same; Uttakuru is the same.

Nāgas

To the east of the Grassy Coast, and within the Great Ocean is the citadel of the Nāga King Sāgara.

This citadel is made of seven levels that rise up level by level; each level is made of a rampart-wall with 4 gates in the cardinal directions, with balustrades above circling around them, with jewelled nets with countless tinkling bells hanging from the balustrades; on top of the balustrades are watchtowers and battlements; within the confines of the balustrades are, pavilions and parks. Within the park is a row of tāla trees with bathing-ponds between them, countless flowers, and wondrously melodious singing birds: these being geese, cranes, peacocks, and other countless species of birds. The tāla trees have leaves, flowers and fruits.

The ramparts, balustrades, netting, and trees are made of the seven jewels: gold, silver, vaiḍūrya, spaṭhika, aśmagarbha, and musāragalva.

The first rampart is gold with silver gates, the balustrades is gold with silver slabs, the netting is gold with silver tinkling bells, the row of trees is gold with silver leaves, flowers, and fruits.

The second rampart is silver with gold gates, the balustrade is silver with gold slabs, the netting is silver with gold tinkling bells, the row of trees is silver with gold leaves, fruits, and flowers.

These descriptions alternate between each of the seven jewels for the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh levels.

The bathing ponds are full of countless lotus flowers: Utpalas, Padmas, Kumudas, and Puṇdarīkas; with the same descriptions as those within the Śītās.

On the southern side of the Grassy Coast, around the Great Tree Kūṭaśālmalī are citadels on each of the four cardinal directions. The northern citadel has Nāgas who are born transformationally; the eastern citadel has Nāgas who are born from an egg; the west from moisture; and the south from a womb.

On Mt. Nimindhara are countless Nāgas who dwell there. And between Yugandhara and Mt. Meru is the citadel of the Nāga Kings Nanda and Upananda.

Asuras

To the north of the Grassy Coast and within the Great Ocean is the citadel of the Asura King Rāhu. This city is 80,000 yojanas in length and width. It is made of seven levels with the same descriptions as Nāga King Sāgara’s citadel: alternating between the seven jewels for each of the the seven levels of walls, railings, netting, and rows of tāla trees.

The ramparts are 3,000 yojanas tall, and 2,000 yojanas thick. The gates are 1,000 yojanas tall and wide.

Within the centre of that city is a smaller citadel called Kṣemāvatī. This city is 60,000 yojanas in width and length. It has the same descriptions as above.

In the centre of Kṣemāvatī is a Kūṭāgāra-Chamber of Asura King Rāhu called Saptaśīrṣa. It has the same descriptions as above.

Within the Kūṭāgāra Saptaśīrṣa, the floor is made of heavenly musāragalva and is laid with soft Kācinalindika cloth. In the centre is a stambha-pillar made of the seven jewels. This pillar is 1,000 yojanas in circumference and 10,000 yojanas tall.

Beneath this pillar is a throne of the Saddharma which is 700 yojanas tall and half a yojana in length and width. This throne is inlaid with carvings made of the seven jewels, the colours mixing together, and laid with a fine Kācinalindika cloth.

On both sides of the kūṭāgāra are a total of 16 other thrones for minor asura kings with the same descriptions.

The kūṭāgāra has four gates on each of the four cardinal directions. Encircling it are seven stairways, seven railings, seven nettings, seven rows of tāla trees, etc. with the same descriptions as above.

East of the Meeting-Hall is the Palace of the Asura King Rāhu. It is 10,000 yojanas in length and width. It has seven walls, seven railings, seven nettings, and seven rows of tāla trees, etc. with the same descriptions as above.

To the south, west, and north of the Meeting-Hall are palaces for the 16 minor asura kings. The first is 9,000 yojanas in length and width, the second is 8,000 yojanas in length and width, the third is 7,000, the fourth is 6,000, the fifth is 5,000, the sixth is 4,000, the seventh is 3,000, the eighth is 2,000, and the ninth is 1,000. Each has seven walls, seven railings, seven nettings, and seven rows of tāla trees, etc. with the same descriptions as above.

Around them, on all four sides are palaces for the multitude of minor asuras. The first is 900 yojanas in length and width, the second is 800 yojanas in length and width, the third is 700, the fourth is 600, the fifth is 500, the sixth is 400, the seventh is 300, the eighth is 200, and the ninth is 100. Each have seven walls, seven railings, seven nettings, seven rows of tāla trees, etc. with the same descriptions as above.

Around these, east of the kūṭāgāra is the Park of Asura King Rāhu called Śāla grove. It is 10,000 yojanas in length and width. It has seven walls, seven railings, seven nettings, and seven rows of tāla trees, etc. with the same descriptions as above.

South of the kūṭāgāra is the grove of Asura King Rāhu called Śālmalī grove. It is 10,000 yojanas in length and width. It has seven walls, seven railings, seven nettings, and seven rows of tāla trees, with the same descriptions as above.

West of the kūṭāgāra is the park of Asura King Rāhu called Kubidāra grove. It is 10,000 yojanas in length and width. It has seven walls, seven railings, seven netting, and seven rows of tāla trees, with the same descriptions as above.

North of the kūṭāgāra is the park of Asura King Rāhu called Nandanā grove. It is 10,000 yojanas in length and width. It has seven walls, seven railings, seven nettings, and seven rows of tāla trees, with the same descriptions as above.

South-east of the kūṭāgāra, between Śālmalī Park and Śāla Park, is a puṣkariṇī-pond called Nanda. It is 10,000 yojanas in length and width. Its water has seven qualities: it is cool, refreshing, soft, light, sweet, clean, and clear. Its floor is made with seven tiles made of the seven jewels with seven slabs made of the seven jewels interspersed throughout.

This puṣkariṇī-pool also has seven stairways made of the seven jewels. It also has seven ramparts, seven balustrades, seven nettings, seven rows of tāla trees, etc. with the same descriptions as above.

The puṣkariṇī’s waters are filled with many aparimāṇas of the four lotus flowers: Utpala, Padma, Kumuda, Puṇḍarīka.

To the north-west of the kūṭāgāra is a Great Tree called Sucitrā-Pārijāta. It is seven yojanas in circumference, the circle of leaves span a radius of 10 yojanas. It is surrounded by a It has seven walls, seven railings, seven nettings, and seven rows of tāla trees, etc. with the same descriptions as before.

There are branching paths between all of these landmarks within this city.

Above the whole citadel of Asura King Rāhu is 10,000 yojanas of the Great Ocean. This water is kept out of the citadel by four spheres of wind. The first sphere of wind is called Saṃstiṭha, the second sphere of wind is called Susaṃstiṭha, the third is called Apatana, and the fourth is called Dṛḍha.

East of the Grassy Coast, within the Great Ocean is citadel of the Asura King Vemacitra. It has all of the same descriptions as the Asura King Rāhu.

West of the Grassy Coast within the Great Ocean is the citadel of the Asura King Khakaraka. It has the same descriptions as above.

South of the Grassy Coast, within the Great Ocean is the citadel of the Asura King Baḍin. It has the same descriptions as above.

There are five asuras who stand by the side of Asura King Rāhu and who act as bodyguards. The first is named Pramudita, the second is called Sadāstin, the third is called Mucilinda, and the fourth is called Vehāyatara.

There are five who stand by Asura King Vemacitra, five by Asura King Khakaraka, and five by Baḍin; and all of them have the same names.

When either of the Asura Kings wish to visit the gardens or puṣkariṇīs, so as to bathe, play, stroll, and enjoy pleasure, they think of their minor asura kings and their assemblies of minor asuras. These minor asura kings and assemblies of minor asuras thinking: “our King is thinking of us”, immediately adorn themselves with various jewels and mālya-garlands, mount various chariots, and go to the gates of the Asura King’s Palace. There they dismount and pay respect.

After that Asura King sees them having arrived, he too immediately adorns himself with various jewels and mālya-garlands, and mounts a chariot, with the minor asura kings and assemblies of asuras escort him.

When they arrive at one of the Parks, three spheres of wind which are in each park begin moving. These spheres naturally breeze through the park. The first is called Prakāśana, the second is called Pariśuddha, and the third is called Vānti.

The first one opens the gates of the park, the second one cleans the park, and the third blows the garden and causes the leaves and flowers on the trees to scatter through the breeze.

These excellent flowers that are scattered have various rich fragrances which permeate the whole park. And here those Asura Kings, minor asura kings, and assemblies of minor asuras may enjoy themselves for a month, two months, or three months.

The Four Heavenly Kings

On the circular mountain Mt. Yugandhara, live the Four Heavenly Kings. On the northern side of the mountain are three cities called Viśārabha, Gabhavatī, and Aṭanaṭiya, each 6,000 yojanas in length and breadth, same descriptions as before.

The Heavenly King Vaiśravaṇa rules over three great clans of Yakṣas called the Karoṭapānis, the Mālādharas, and the Sadāmadas. As well as Rākṣasas.

Each of these Yakṣas live on the circular mountains: Mt. Sudarśana, Mt. Khadiraka, and Mt. Īśādāra respectively; as described before. These Rākṣasas dwell on the northern side of the circular mountain, Mt. Cakravāḍa.

Each have a Dwelling Place 60 yojanas in length and width, 40 yojanas in length and width, and 20 yojanas in length and width respectively; as described before.

The Heavenly King Dhṛtarāṣṭra rules over a great clan of Gandharvas as well as Piśācas. These Gandharvas have a Dwelling Place on the circular mountain Mt. Aśvakarṇa which is full of fruits. These Piśācas dwell on the eastern side of Mt. Cakravāḍa.

The Heavenly King Virūḍhaka rules over a great clan of Kumbhāṇḍas as well as Bhūtas. These Kumbhāṇḍas dwell on Mt. Aśvakarṇa. These Bhūtas dwell on the southern side of Mt. Cakravāḍa.

The Heavenly King Virūpakṣa rules over a great clan of Nāgas as well as Pūtanas. These Nāgas dwell on Mt. Nimindhara; as described before. These Pūtanas dwell on the western side of Mt. Cakravāḍa.