Śveta (son of Vapushmān)

Śveta

Śveta is one of the seven sons of the hero Vapushmān, the lord of Śālmala-dvīpa, the third of the seven dvīpas of the earth. Lomaharshaṇa, describing to the munis the dvīpas beyond Jambūdvīpa, says that seven varsha mountains of Śālmala-dvīpa are known by the names of Vapushmān’s sons, and Śveta is the first of them; the first of the seven varshas of that dvīpa is also called Śveta.

In Śālmala-dvīpa

The seven varsha mountains named after Vapushmān‘s sons are Śveta, Harita, Jīmūta, Rohita, Vaidyuta, Mānasa and Suprabha. The seven varshas are Śveta, Lohita, Jīmūta, Harita, Vaidyuta, Mānasa and Suprabha. The dvīpa is twice the measure of Plaksha-dvīpa and is surrounded by the ocean of sugar-cane juice (ikshu-rasa). It has seven chief mountains bearing gems within them, Kumuda, Unnata, Valāhaka, Droṇa, Kaṅka, Mahisha and Kakudmān, and on Droṇa grow great healing herbs. Its seven rivers, Śroṇī, Toyā, Vitṛshṇā, Candrā, Śukrā, Vimocanī and Nivṛtti, take away pāpas by mere remembrance.

The order of the four varṇas is kept there, and the people are known by their colours, kapila, aruṇa, pīta and kṛshṇa, for the brāhmaṇas, kshatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras. Those who perform yajñas there worship Bhagavān Vishṇu in the form of Vāyu, and the devas are present in that lovely dvīpa. It is called Śālmala-dvīpa because the śālmala tree (the silk-cotton tree) stands there.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 20

Sources

• Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 20