Samavasarana

Samavasarana

In samavasarana, the tirthankara sits on a throne without touching it (about two inches above it). Around the tirthankara sit the ganadharas (chief disciples). Living beings sit in the following order:

• In the first hall, ascetics
• In the second hall, one class of deva ladies
• In the third hall, aryikas (nuns) and laywomen
• In the next three halls, three other classes of deva ladies
• In the next four halls, the four classes of devas (heavenly beings)
• Men, in the eleventh hall
• Animals, in the last hall

According to Jain texts, there would be four wide roads with four huge columns, Manasthamba (literally, pride pillar), one in each side. The total size of the hall varies depending upon the height of the people in that era. The size of Rishabhadeva's samavasarana was 12 km² (4.6 sq mi).