watery circle ［水輪］ ( jala-mandala;  suirin): Also, water circle. In the ancient Indian worldview, one of the three circles located under the earth that support the world. When a world is formed, a windy circle first takes shape, and upon this a watery circle develops. Next, on the watery circle a gold circle forms, and upon this forms the land itself with its Mount Sumeru, seas, and mountains. According to The Dharma Analysis Treasury, after the windy circle forms, dense clouds rise above it, and rain falls in torrents to form a watery circle 1,120,000 yojanas in depth and 1,203,450 yojanas in diameter. Gradually the upper layer of the watery circle congeals and finally changes into a layer of gold 320,000 yojanas thick, forming the gold circle. The remaining watery circle is thus 800,000 yojanas deep. Both the watery circle and the gold circle are the same size in diameter. The Sanskrit word jala of jala-mandala means water, and mandala, disk or circle.