Part 28 (1/2)

When the Sun is between the spring Equinox and Autumn Equinox, it is Daks.h.i.+nayana (Going towards the south.) The Sun's motion is then said to be Quick.

When the sun is at the Equinoxes it is Vishuva. The Sun's motion is then said to be Even.

When it is Daks.h.i.+nayana, the days increase. When it is Uttarayana the nights increase.

The sages teach 9 Krores and 51 lakhs of Yojanas as the Circ.u.mference of Manasottara.

[On both sides of Meru up to Manasottara is 3 Krores and 15 lakhs. The Measure of the above circle is obtained from this (diameter).

_Sridhara_.]

[A full diagram of the Bhur system will now have to be given, to explain the above figures. For the sake of convenience, the Dvipa and its ocean are given as one.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: A diagram of the Bhur system.]

From Meru to Lokaloka on one side ... 12 1/2 Krores on both sides ... 25 ”

Loka loka on both sides ... 25 ”

Measure of Bhur system ... 50 ”

Distance from Meru to Manasottora 15,750,000 On both sides ... 31,500,000

The Manasottara range is a circle of which the last figure is the diameter.

The circle is obtained by multiplying the diameter by a little over 3.

The circle is thus given to be - 9 Krores and 51 Lakshas.

The Manasottara is the path of revolution of the sun round Meru.

On the East side of Meru in the Manasottara is the seat of Indra named Devadhani.

On the South side is the seat of Yama named Sanyamani.

On the West is the seat of Varuna named Nimlochani.

On the North is the seat of the Moon named Vibhavari.

Sunrise, midday, Sunset and night on those seats cause action and inaction in beings, according to the time with reference to the side of Meru.

(For those that live to the south of Meru, their east &c. commence from the abode of Indra, of those that live to the west from the abode of Yama, of the northern people, from the abode of Varuna, of the eastern people from the abode of the Moon. _Sridhara_.)

Those that live on the Meru have the Sun always over their heads.

The Sun's chariot makes one round along Manasottara in one year. The wheel or chakra of the chariot is therefore called Sanvatsara.

The 12 months are the 12 spokes of that wheel. The six seasons form 6 arcs.

The pole of that chariot extends to the top of Meru. The other end of the pole is on the Manasottara. (It is either to be thought that the wheel is placed more than 50,000 Yojanas over the Manasottara in the regions of air or the wheel is to be considered as high as that distance, otherwise the Manasottara being 10,000 Yojanas high and Meru being 84 Yojanas high, 16 thousand being under ground, there will be a difference of planes in the Sun's revolution. _Sridhara_.)