Dr. Samani Mangal Pragya
There is a description of Tamaskāya (Macro-cosmological structures in the form of black streaks in the space, formed by density of water-bodied beings and earth-bodied pudgalas (material aggregates). It is situated in the ūrdhvaloka (upper cosmos) and kṛṣṇarājī (a mass of darkness, the form of a cosmological structure of very great size) formed by the natural transformations of the earth-bodied beings and pudgalas (material clusters); it exists in both the tiryakloka (middle universe) and the 'ūrdhvaloka (upper universe)'. They are black colored, dark pitched, thrilling, terrifying, horrific and densely dark. Even a deity, who sees it for the first time, gets frustrated (kṣhubdha). If by chance he enters into it, he has to suddenly come out of that with high speed.[1] It means that these two have been constituted out of such material aggregates that absorb and even a single ray of light cannot move out of it. Bhagavatī states tamaskāya as water bodied beings and kṛṣṇarājī as earth bodied beings.[2]
Beginning and End point of Tamaskāya
In the diagonal direction out of Jambūdvīpa, (The name of the central continent in Jain Cosmography); it is situated in the centre of the Tiryagloka (middle universe), surrounded by innumerable concentric rings of alternate oceans and continents; its diameter is 1 lakh Yojanas (1Yojana= 7.88 kilometers) and Mount Meru is its nucleus), crossing the innumerable lands and oceans, on the other corner of vedikā (terrace) of aruṇavaya island, there is aruṇodaya ocean. Under the 42000 yojana of this ocean, from the upper surface of the water, a series of one unit of tamaskāya begins. Here is the starting point of tamaskāya. It moves vertically upwards for about 1721 yojanas. Then spreading horizontally, it covers the four heavenly abodes namely saudharma, īśāna, sanatkumāra and māhendra and reaches up to the prastara of riṣṭavimāna of brahmaloka kalpa. Here is the ending point of tamaskāya.[3] Bhagavatī highlights detailed description regarding the configuration, expansion and many other information about tamaskāya.[4]
Number and Condition of Kṛṣṇarājī
There are eight kṛṣṇarājīs.[5] These are situated above the third and fourth heavenly abodes and are parallel to the riṣṭa vimāna prastara of fifth heavenly abode called Brahma. Two - two kṛṣṇarājīs are spread in each direction of ākhātaka configuration in samacaturasra configuration (that configuration which is like a square).[6] Bhagavati Sūtra explains the geographical and mathematical analysis of tamaskāya and kṛṣṇarājī.
As these two have been explained in Jainism, it can be compared with the concept of 'black holes' found in modern science to some extent. Acharya Mahapragya has tried to throw some light into this,[7] but further in-depth and comparative research work is anticipated in this field.
