“Picture of Trailokya and Nine lands” from Dunhuang

source gallica.bnf.fr/Bibliothèque nationale de France.

#Mt. Meru #cosmotheism #innerwheel #cosmicaxis

Based on #Abhidharmakośakārikā(verses on the treasury of Abhidharma)

“Collected by Joseph Rock, this scroll is divided into 103 sections. These sections depict the stages and realms through which the soul of the deceased has to travel and traverse. They pass through the nine black spurs in hell guarded by the demons, on to the human domain, and eventually to the realm of gods, their journey usually ending when they reach the domain of the supreme deities of the Naxi pantheon. The scroll is attached to the head of the coffin. The first part of the scroll begins with the demon realms closest to the head of the coffin; the end of the scroll depicts the realms of the gods that must extend in a horizontal position in a northeasterly direction. The scroll serves as a bridge for the soul to reach the realm of the gods. The officiating dongbas perform an exorcism to propitiate and banish demons and evil spirits in the funeral ceremonies.

A close examination of this scroll reveals the cosmological concept of the sacred places of heaven and hell in an indigenous Naxi religion, with elements of Tibetan Bon-Shamanism, Indian Tantrism, and Lamaism. For further study, see Joseph F. Rock, “Studies in Na-khi Literature: Part II, The Na-khi Ha zhi p’i.” Offprint of Studies in Na-khi Literature (Hanoi) (1937), and Joseph F. Rock, “The Zhi ma Funeral Ceremony of the Na-khi of Southwest China,” Studia Instituti Anthropos 9. St. Gabriel’s Mission Press (Vienna-Modling) (1955): 40–119.” https://memory.loc.gov/intldl/naxihtml/rock.html

“The Sangrahanisutra is a cosmological text composed in 1136 by Shrichandra that includes Jain ideas about the structure of the universe and the mapping of space. The manuscript, made in the eighteenth century, includes illustrations and cosmic diagrams. 
On the recto of this folio is one half of a cosmic chart showing the dvipas, or continents. The other half of the chart is on the previous folio (IS.35:14–1971). There are believed to be two and a half continents, arranged concentrically and separated by two ring-shaped oceans. Rivers can be seen flowing into the oceans and mountain ranges appear as lines on the diagram. At the centre is Mount Meru, the cosmic axis, depicted here in yellow. The part of the universe shown here, which is that inhabited by humans, is imagined as being in the centre of the universe, below the heavens and above the hells. On the verso is text with a small stellar diagram on the right.”

Cosmological Jain mandala depicting the universe w/central Mt Meru surrounded by concentric circles, India, 19thC (http://liveauctioneers.com ).

The setting, with beasts and floating skulls in a desolate landscape, focuses the mind of the meditator (or the initiate in a ceremony) upon mortality, and hence upon the eternal. Within the circle is a view of our world, seen from above (a sacred, imaginary conception, but based upon reality). The four continents are represented by groups of three buildings. India, the southern continent, appears on the left. Between the continents and Mt. Meru are seven concentric oceans and mountain ranges. Mt. Meru rises in the center. One heaven stands on its slopes, a second lies at its summit, and four float above it.

Mural of Mt. Meru, sacred mountain in Hindu/Buddhist cosmology, Wat Ko Keo Sutharam, Thailand, 1723 @BridgemanImages