Jain Cosmography [5]

Mahavideh Kshetra

The Mahavideh Kshetra is located in the middle of Jambudwip. It is situated between two mountain ranges: in the north Mahavideh Kshetra is bordered by Nishadh mountain range and in the south by the Nilvant mountains. Additionally, it touches Lavan ocean on its both sides, East and West. The size of Mahavideh Kshetra is 1 lakh Yojans both East and West and North and South. Its shape is like a cot. Its width is ca. 33684 Yojans.

Mahavideh Kshetra is divided into 4 section: East and West Mahavideh and South and North Devkuru; in the middle lies the Meru mountain.

North and south area of Mahavideh:

• In the middle is Meru mountain occupying 10,000 Yojans.
• In South there is Bhadrashal forest (250 Yojans).
• Devkuru measures 11562 Yojans and 2 Kala.
• In North there is Bhadra Shal Forest (250 Yojans).
• Uttarkuru measures 11592 Yojans and 2 Kala

East and west area of Mahavideh:

• East 23,000 Yojans; West 23,000 Yojans; East-West 46,000 Yojans area.
• Jigtina (12 Yojans).
• Sita Mukhvan (2410 Yojans).
• Vakshaskar Mountain (2000 Yojans).
• Inner river (375 Yojans)

The River Sitoda originates in the Tigichdrah of Niksadh mountain. It flows in the middle of western Mahavideh Kshetra and reaches finally to Lavan ocean. This divides western Mahavideh Kshetra into two divisions. Likewise the river Sita originates in the Kesaridrah of Nilkanth mountains and reaches Lavan ocean flowing in the middle of east Mahavideh Kshetra. Thus east Mahavideh is also divided into two sections by this river. Thus, in 4 section there are 8 Vijayas; and between each Vijay there is a river and a mountain.

Sketch of Mahavideh, depicting mountains and rivers of the 32 Vijays.

After each Vijay, there is a big mountain, then there is a big river. Thus, there are totally 32 Vijays in Mahavideh Kshetra. In Jambudwip there are 34 Chakravarti Vijayas of which 32 from Mahavideh and one each from Bharat and Airvat Kshetra.

	North		South		South		North
1.	Kutch	9.	Vatsa	17.	Padma	25.	Vapra
2.	Sukatch	10.	Suvatsa	18.	Supadma	26.	Suvapra
3.	Mahakach	11.	Mahavatsa	19.	Mahapadma	27.	Mahavapra
4.	Machgavati	12.	Vatsagavati	20.	Padmagavati	28.	Vapravati
5.	Awart	13.	Ramya	21.	Shankh	29.	Valgu
6.	Manglavart	14.	Ramyak	22.	Kumud	30.	Suvalgu
7.	Puskalavrat	15.	Ramanik	23.	Nalin	31.	Ganhit
8.	Puskala Vati	16.	Mangalavati	24.	Nalinavati	32.	Gandhilavati

In 8th Puskalavati Vijay there lives Simandharswami, in 9th Vatsa Vijay there lives Yugmandhaswami, in 24th Nalinavati Vijay there lives Shri Bahu Swami and in 25th Vapra Vijay There lives Shri Sabahu Swami.

Sketch of Mahavideh, depicting the structure of the 32 Vijays.

In Bharat Kshetra between the time-space of 17th Tirthankara Shri Kunthunath and 18th Tirthankaras Shri Arnath, in Mahavideh Kshetra of Adhai Dwip (two and a half continent), there were 20 Tirthankaras.

Likewise, between the time space of 20th Munisuvrat Swami and 21st Tirthankara, Shri Neminath, as many as 20 Tirthankara, renunciated the world in Mahavideh. They were monks for one month and attained ultimate knowledge (kevalgyana) thereafter; in the next series of 24th Tirthankaras, all 20 Tirthankaras will attain moksha (ultimate liberation) between the time space of 7th and 8th Tirthankaras of the said next series of 24 Tirthankaras.

These (existing as on today Viharman) 20 Tirthankaras of Mahavideh, have a life span of 84 lakh purva. Of these, 83 lakh purva period will be spent in the worldly life as householders. Then they will be on a monk's life for a lakh purva period in mediation. Their body size is 500 arch (dhanushya). They all will have 84 principle disiples (Gandhar).

As shown above, there are 32 Vijays. There are two Vijaya in Bharat and Airvat Kshetra. Thus, there could be 34 Tirthankaras (32+2 = 34) at the rate of one in each Vijaya. In this Kshetra human being have height of 500 arch (Shanush) and life span ranging from a very short period to a very long period up to crores of Purva.

After living the life as attributed to each soul, they get birth according to their karmas again regaining from hell, animal, bird life, god in heaven or human beings. Some of them also attain salvation - the ultimate liberation and get free from birth and re-birth cycle. They go then the Siddh Lok.

The name “Mahavideh”

There are different opinions why this area is called Mahavideh Kshetra.

1. Because it is longer and wider in size as compared to all other Kshetras. Hence, it is maha i.e. bigger in all respect then any other Kshetra.
2. In this area the humans have bigger structure of bodies.
3. This Kshetra is governed by a God, named Mahavideh. So the Kshetra is probably known as Mahavideh after his name.

At any rate, the name Mahavideh (for whatever reason) is universal, certain and permanent. It was there in past, it is in present and it will remain in future too. The name is for ever.