Saptadvīpa (1): Jambudvīpa (Introduction)

In the Chapter 113 the Sūta has described about the Jambudvīpa to put down Sage’s curiosity. When the Sages ask about the whole world, the Sūta answers them and tells that he is not able to tell about the whole world because world is so vast and that is why he only tells about the Saptadvīpa of the earth and he start with the Jambudvīpa . According to the Matsya Purāṇa , the expansion of Jambudvīpa is one lakh Yojana . It is full of many beautiful countries and cities. The Siddhas and Cāranas live in it. It is adorned with Mountains of all kinds of metals combined and integrated with rock groups. It is widespread from the rivers originating from those Mountains. It has six vast rainforests spread from east to west. It has a Mountain called Himavān, which extends to the seas on both the east and west sides and always covered with snow. After this there is a Mountain called Hemkuta , covered with gold. After that, which is very beautiful to see from all around, it is a great Mountain called Niṣadh .

On one side of it is Suvarnamay Meruparvata , whose four sides are of four colors and which ware called Ulambamaya (similar to uterus). It is spread in all four directions for twenty-four thousand schemes. Its upper part is a circular figure and the lower part is square. Its sides are covered with multicolored plains of land, which looks like the nature of the butterfly. This is originated from Avyaktajanma Brahma’s navel. Its eastern part is white colored, due to which its Brahmanical spirit is reflected. Its southern part is yellow in color, due to which there is a belief of Vaiśya spirit. Its western part is black like the wings of the bee, due to which Śudra spirit is reflected. Its northern part is red colored by nature and this indicates its Kṣatriya spirit. In this way, the description of all four colors is given. Then there is the Neel Parvata , which is covered with Vaiduryamaṇi . Then again there is the Śveta Parvata , which is yellow due to covered with gold and also there is Śṛngavan Parvata , embellished with golden peaks, which are like peacock’s tail and with peculiar colors. All these Mountains are always served by the Siddhas and Cāranas . Their inner diameter is said to be nine thousand Yojanas.

In the central part of the earth there is a year called Ilāvṛta , which is spread around the Mahāmeru Mountain. It is wide in the flat lands of twenty-four thousand Yojana . In its central part is a Mountain called Mahāmeru , which shines like a flameless fire. The half-southern part of Meru Mountain is famous as South Meru and half-northern part as North Meru. In this way, in the Seven Varṣa , that has been mentioned, there are Seven Varṣa Parvata which are spread from south to north in the range of two thousand Yojana . The expansion of Jambudvīpa is said to be equal to the expansion of these Seven Varṣa and Mountains. Among them Neel & Niṣadha both of these are huge Mountains and Śveta , Hemakuta , Himavān and Śṛngavan –they are comparatively smaller than them (Neel , Niṣadha ). Ṛṣabha Mountain is said to be similar wide to the Jambudvīpa . Hemakuta Mountain is less than twelfth part of Ṛṣabha Mountain and Himavān is less than twentieth part of it. The Hemakuta , Great Mountain is said to be of magnitude eighty-eight thousand Yojana and the Mountain Himavān is spread from east to west in eighty thousand Yojana . Due to being located in the zonal circle of Jambudvīpa these Mountains have been described as modesty. Like the Mountains, there is variation in the Varṣas as well. They are all spread towards each other towards the north. Between them the countries, which are inhabited, are divided into seven varṣas . All these seven varṣas are surrounded by Mountains that are impossible due to floss (spring/waterfalls). Similarly, due to the division of seven rivers, they are not interchangeable. In these varṣas , many races and animals reside everywhere. This varṣa , related to the Himavān Mountain, is known as the Bhāratrarṣa .

The region after Himavān to Hemakuṭa is called as Kimpuruṣa and after Hemakuta to Niṣadha Mountain the region is known as Harivarṣa . After Harivarṣa , the region to the Meru Mountain is popularly known as Ilāvṛta and the province after Ilāvṛta to the Neela Mountain is known as Ramyakavarṣa . The region which is situated after the Ramyakavarṣa to the Sveta Mountain, is famous as Hiraṇyakavarṣa . After Hiraṇyakavarṣa there is another varṣa named Śṛngaśaka , which is also known as kuru varṣa . Another two varṣas are situated shaped like a bow in the south and north direction of the Meru Mountain. In their midst the Ilāvṛta varṣa is situated. In the east direction of the Niṣadha Mountain, the alter half of Meru is known as Dakṣinvedi and from the west side of Ilāvṛta , the half part of the alter is known as Uttaravedi . Between the two vedi , the position of the Meru where the Ilāvṛta varṣa is located, should be considered. In south of the Nile Mountain and north of the Niṣadh Mountain is a Mountain named Māllyvān , which is counted in the vast Mountains. It is long from north to south. It is spread in thirty-two thousand yojana after the ocean in the west direction. Thus, the Māllyavān Mountain is situated in an extension of one thousand yojana between the Nile and Niṣadha Mountain. Similarly, the Gandhamādan Mountain has also been spread in thirty-two thousand.

In the middle of both these circles is a golden Mountain called Meru. It is square and extremely high, with four types of colors.

Its sides are decorated with a variety of colors. Its eastern part is white, the southern part is yellow, the western part is black like a winged feather and the northern part is red. Thus it is said to contain four colors. In this way, the divine Mountain Meru surrounded by maintains from all around is beautified like king. It is like youth Sun i.e. mid sun. It shines like a flameless fire. Its height above the earth is eighty-four thousand yojana. It is sunk under the earth for sixteen thousand yojanas and it is spread up to twenty-eight thousand yojans .

Its spread around it is twice the extent. This great celestial Mountain Meru is full of divine herbs and is surrounded by all golden trees. On this Mountain, the Devatās , Gandharvas , Asuras and demons everyone enjoy life of being with Apsaras. It has four countries located in its various sides. They are–“Bhadrāśva ” in the east, “Bhārata ” in the south, “Ketumala ” in the west and “Uttarkuru ” as the shelter of the virtues done in the north. In the same way, in all four directions, there are four Great Mountains named ‘Mandara ’, ‘Gandhamādan ’, ‘Vipul ’ and ‘Supārśva ’ decorated with all kinds of gems. On the top of them there are the lakes named ‘Aruṇoda ’, ‘Mānas ’, ‘Sitoda ’ and ‘Bhadra ’ and many other forest. There are many trees of Bhadrakadamba on the Mandar Mountain, Jamun on the Mountain Gandhamādan , Peepal on the Mountain Vipul and Banyan trees on the Mountain Supārśva .

In the west part of the Gandhamādan , there is a Mountain called Amargaṇḍik , which is completed with thirty-two thousand plain lands by all sides. The residents who perform auspicious deeds there are known as Ketumal . In the south from the Nile Mountain and north from the Niṣadha Mountain is a Varṣa named Ramaṇaka .

To the north of the Śveta Mountain and to the south side of the Śṛngavān Mountain is a Varṣa named Hiraṇvarṣa , where the river named Hairaṇvatī flows. In that Varṣa , there is a great tree of Lakuch (Barhar)–covered with leaves, by drinking the fruit juice of it, human live there. There are three peaks of the Śṛngavān Mountain, which are very high. One of them is full of gems, one is full of Gold and one is adorned with server. To the north and south coast of the Śṛngavān Mountain is the varṣa called Uttarkuru which is supremely virtuous and well preserved by the Siddhas . There is divine nectar water flowing in rivers. There are also many divine trees full of sweet fruits. Some of the trees are very beautiful and fulfilling all desires. All the lands there are full of Gems and on the lands fine sand is scattered. A wordless, soft and soft-smelling fragrant air flows around it.

In addition to the Matsya Purāṇa , the Jambudvīpa is also mentioned in the Padma Purāṇa (Svargakhanda 6/66-69), Vāyu Purāṇa (Ch-1/96, 1/47), Liṅga Purāṇa (Ch-49), Śrīmadbhāgavata (Ch-20), Vāmana Purāṇa (Ch-13/3/5), Garuda Purāṇ (Ch-55/1/3), Viṣṇu Purāṇa (2nd part Chapter-2) etc. According to the ‘Purāṇa Vimarsa ’, it was a part of the India in the beginning of the Jambudvīpa , but later, in the arrival of the Śaka and Kuṣāna , many changes in the India have been changed. Almost all the Purāṇas have been accepted that the Jambudvīpa is the first watery island, almost one million Yojana wide among the seven dvīpas . The Viṣṇu Purāṇa mentions that in this island, there is a tree of Jambu fruit (Jamun or Indian black berry) whose fruits are as large as elephants. The ripped fruits fall to the ground and its juice is mixed with water in the Jambu River. This island is named after this Jambu tree. Almost every Purāṇa mentions some varṣas and Mountains of the Jambudvīpa but the only difference being in their numbers. Not only Hindu Purāṇas but also there are mention about the Jambudvīpa in Buddhismand, Jainism.

According to the Dharma-Saṃgraha the Jambudvīpa is one of the center Continent among the four continents–

1. Pūrvavideha in the East,
2. Jambudvīpa in the center,
3. Aparagodānī in the West,
4. Uttarakurudvīpa in the North.

According to ‘Jaina-cosmology’ the Jambudvīpa is a continent which is situated in the middle part of the Universe or ‘Madhyaloka ’. Jaina cosmology also mentions that the Jambudvīpa has 6 Mountains and 9 zones (Kṣetra ).

The 9 zones are–

1. Bhārata Kṣetra;
2. Mahāvideha Kṣetra;
3. Airavat Kṣetra;
4. Ramyakwas;
5. Hariwas;
6. Hairanvyat Kṣetra;
7. Haimavat Kṣetra;
8. Devkuru;
9. Uttarkuru;