In Jainism, the “picture of the universe” (Jain Loka / Lokākāś) is usually shown in a very specific traditional shape.

Since I cannot directly show an image here, I’ll describe it simply so you can recognize or draw it yourself, and also share where you can see an authentic diagram.

1. Overall Shape of Jain Universe (Lokākāś)

Jain scriptures describe the universe as:

• Shaped roughly like a standing human / hourglass:

- Broad at the top - Narrow in the middle - Broad at the bottom ( jainknowledge.com)

This whole shape is called Lokākāś – the space where all souls take birth, die and get liberated. Outside it is Alokākāś, completely empty (no souls, no karmas).

2. Three Main Parts (Top–Middle–Bottom)

1. Urdhva Loka (Upper World) – Top broad part

- Many levels of heavens (Deva-lokas) - At the very top: Siddha-śilā – a small crescent-like region, abode of liberated souls (Siddhas), shown as a thin arc with tiny dots above it. ( jainknowledge.com)

1. Madhya Loka (Middle World) – Thin waist in the center

- This is where humans, animals, plants, tiryancha live. - Shown as a flat, disc-like middle band. - Inside this are: - Jambudvīpa in the center - Mount Meru in the middle of Jambudvīpa - Other continents & oceans in circular rings around it ( jainknowledge.com)

1. Adho Loka (Lower World) – Bottom broad part

- Seven levels of hell (Naraka) - Each lower level is more painful than the one above ( jainknowledge.com)

3. Simple Way to Visualize / Draw It

You can imagine or sketch it like this (very simplified):

• Draw an hourglass / standing person–shape.
• Divide it horizontally into 3 zones:

- Upper big zone = Heavens + Siddha-śilā at the very top - Middle thin band = Madhya Loka (Jambudvīpa etc.) - Lower big zone = 7 hells

Inside the middle band, traditional diagrams show circular islands and oceans with a central mountain (Meru).

4. Where to See the Actual Picture

For a proper visual diagram of Jain cosmology and Loka:

• JainKnowledge has an article “Universe Cosmology according to Jainism” explaining this structure clearly ( jainknowledge.com)
• There is also a detailed explanation of Jain cosmology diagram (Lokākāś / Jambudvīpa) here ( jainknowledge.com)

On those pages you will find (or be guided to) actual images used traditionally in Jain texts and temples.