Jambudvīpa

Jambudvīpa is the central island of the sapta-dvīpa or seven-island system described in the Vedas. It is shaped like a circular lotus leaf and is surrounded by the Lavaṇoda-sāgara or salt ocean.

Dimensions and Location

Jambudvīpa has a width of 100,000 yojanas. It is situated at the center of the sapta-dvīpa, surrounded on all sides by the Lavaṇoda-sāgara, which also possesses a width of 100,000 yojanas. The total extent of the earth including the sapta-dvīpa and their respective oceans is described as being fifty crore yojanas.

Mount Meru

At the direct center of Jambudvīpa stands Mount Meru, a golden mountain that serves as the pericarp or karṇikā of the earth-lotus.

Physical Structure

Mount Meru is 84,000 yojanas high and extends 16,000 yojanas deep into the ground. Its summit has a width of 32,000 yojanas, while its base is 16,000 yojanas wide. The mountain is depicted as having four colors on its sides corresponding to the four varṇas: white on the east for brāhmaṇas, red on the north for kshatriyas, yellow on the south for vaiśyas, and the color of a bee on the west for śūdras.

Surrounding Peaks

Meru is supported by four mountains called avashṭambha-giris, each 10,000 yojanas in height and width. These are Mandara to the east, Merumandara to the south, Supārśva to the west, and Kumuda to the north. These mountains feature four Great trees which act as banners: a Kadamba tree on Mandara, a Jambu tree on Merumandara, a Pippala tree on Supārśva, and a Vaṭa tree on Kumuda. There are also four divine lakes on these peaks filled with milk, honey, sugarcane juice, and sweet water respectively.

Geographic Divisions or Varshas

Jambudvīpa is divided into nine regions known as varshas. These regions are separated by great boundary mountains called varsha-parvatas or maryādā-parvatas.

Southern Varshas

Three regions lie to the south of Mount Meru:

  1. Bhārata-varsha: The southernmost region, located between the Himavān mountain and the salt ocean.
  2. Kimpurusha-varsha: Situated north of Bhārata-varsha and south of Hemakūṭa.
  3. Harivarsha: Located between Hemakūṭa and the Nishadha mountain.

Northern Varshas

Three regions lie to the north of Mount Meru:

  1. Ramyaka-varsha: Located north of the Nīla mountain.
  2. Hiraṇmaya-varsha: Situated north of Ramyaka-varsha and south of the Śveta mountain.
  3. Kuru-varsha: The northernmost region, lying between the Śṛṅgavān mountain and the northern ocean.

Central and Lateral Varshas

  1. Ilāvṛta-varsha: The central region where Mount Meru is situated.
  2. Bhadrāśva-varsha: Located to the east of Mount Meru, bordered by the Mālyavān mountain.
  3. Ketumāla-varsha: Located to the west of Mount Meru, bordered by the Gandhamādana mountain.

The Jambu Tree and Jambu River

The name Jambudvīpa is derived from a giant Jambu tree found within the island. This tree produces fruit the size of an elephant. When the fruit falls and bursts, its juice forms the Jambu-nadī or Jambu River. The soil on the banks of this river, when dried by the wind and sun, transforms into the famous Jambūnada gold used for divine ornaments.

Hydrography

The celestial Gaṅgā falls from the heavens onto the summit of Meru and divides into four major streams to water the different regions of Jambudvīpa:

  1. Sītā: Flows to the east through Bhadrāśva-varsha and enters the ocean.
  2. Alakanandā: Flows to the south through Bhārata-varsha and enters the salt ocean.
  3. Cakshu: Flows to the west through Ketumāla-varsha and reaches the ocean.
  4. Bhadrā: Flows to the north through Kuru-varsha and enters the northern ocean.

Role of Bhārata-varsha

Among the nine regions of Jambudvīpa, Bhārata-varsha is unique as the karma-bhūmi or land of action. It is only in this region that mortals perform religious duties to attain Svarga or Moksha. The other eight regions are considered bhoga-bhūmis or lands of enjoyment, where inhabitants live for thousands of years without disease or the effects of aging.

To understand the vast structure of Jambudvīpa, one might compare it to a lotus flower where Mount Meru is the central stalk and the various varshas are its expansive petals.

Source: Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa, Chapters 51, 52