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Sakwala
Sakwala is mundane system or the solar system, the space to which the light of a sun extends.

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Sakwala, Mundane System Of BuddhismSakwala is the `word` uttered by Gautama Buddha while giving his verbal instructions. Sakwala is a mundane, or rather a solar system, of which there is an infinite number in the universe, and which denotes that space to which the light of every sun extends.

In Buddhism, it is stated that each Sakwala contains earths, hells and heavens. The world attains its prime position and then falls into decay and is finally destroyed regularly at recurring periods, in virtue of one immutable law.

The Sakwala, or mundane system is specified as a vast circle. This is the outward boundary, or circumference, being a region of rocks, ascending 82,000 Yodums above the sea (A yodun is equal to 13 or 14 miles). Thus the Sakwala measures 3,610,350 yoduns.

In the middle of Sakwala is the Maha Meru, 84,000 yoduns covered by the sea and is of the same height, length and breadth. There are seven series of concentric rocks, each half the height of the preceding one, and encircles the Maha Meru. The Yugandhara is half the height of Maha Meru or about fort-two thousand voduns. All of them are separated from each other by seas and both the gods and demons reside here.

There are four continents situated in between the seventh and the last circle and the Sakwala Gala or the rocky circumference. The southern most continent is the Jambudwipa where the human beings reside.

In Sakwala there are six heavens. The first one is the bright heaven having the altitude above the earth of Yugandhara, or 42,000 yaduns. The second heaven is situated above the summit of Maha Meru. The last four heavens are situated one by one in ascending order. Again above the last four Arupa worlds there are sixteen Brahma worlds.

The Asuras or Titans or demons or Nagas reside in the Hell situated below the earth, the sea and the Maha Meru. Below the solid earth there is an ocean about 480,000 yoduns deep and more below it is the atmosphere of 960,000 yoduns deep. This is the lowest part of the Sakwala world and Aruna world the highest in the position.


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