320 OBSERVATIONS ON 



Racshasas, Pisachas, Cmnaras, &c. supposed to range 

 over the earth. The preceding class (Jy6tishis)j 

 comprehends five orders of luminaries; suns, moons, 

 pknets, constellations and stars, of which more 

 hereafter. The Vaimanicas belong to the various Vi- 

 manas, in, the twelve regions, or worlds, inhabited 

 by gods. The class of Blmvanapati includes ten or- 

 ders, entitled Asuracumara, Ndgacumara, &c.; each 

 governed by two Indras. All these gods are mortal, 

 except, perhaps, the luminaries. 



The earth consists of numerous distinct continents, 

 in concentric circles, separated by seas forming rings 

 between them. The nrst circle is Jambudzvipa, with 

 the mountain Sudars'a Meru in the centre. It is en- 

 compassed by a ring containing the salt ocean ; be- 

 yond which is the zone, named Dhdtucidwipa ; simi- 

 larly surrounded by a black ocean. This again is 

 encircled hy -Push car adw ipa ; of which only the firsjt 

 half is accessible to mankind : being separated from 

 the remoter half, by an impassable range of moun- 

 tains, denominated Manushottara Pavoata. Dhd- 

 tusidwipa contains two mountains, similar to SumirUy 

 named Vijanga and Achala ; and Pushcara contains 

 two others, called Mandhd 2i\\d. Vidyuumdli. 



The diameter of Jaijibudwipa being 100,000 great 



y 

 Ydjanas*, if the 190th part be taken, or 526^, we 



have the breadth of Bharata varsha, which occupies 

 the southern segment of the circle. Airdvata is a 

 similar northern segment. A band (33648^ Ydjanas 

 wide) across the circle, with Sudars'a Mhu in the mid- 

 dle of it, is Vidiha varsha, divided by Meru (or by four 

 peaks like elephant's teeth,, at the four corners of that 



Eacli great Yofana contaias 2000 cos. 



