Śyāma (Mountain of Śāka-dvīpa)

Śyāma · śyāma, “the dark one”

Śyāma is a mountain of Śāka-dvīpa, the sixth of the seven dvīpas of the earth. It is one of the varsha mountains (varsha-parvatas) of that dvīpa, named in the Brahma Purāṇa where Lomaharshaṇa describes to the munis the dvīpas beyond Jambūdvīpa.

In Śāka-dvīpa

Bhavya is the lord of Śāka-dvīpa, and its varshas bear the names of his sons: Jalada, Kumāra, Sukumāra, Manīraka, Kuśamoda, Modāki and Mahādruma. Its varsha mountains are Udayagiri, Jaladhāra, also named Raivataka, Śyāma, Ambhogiri, Astikeya and Kesarī. A great tree called Śāka, served by siddhas and gandharvas, stands there; the wind that touches its leaves gives supreme joy.

There are janapadas (settled lands) of pure people of the four varṇas, who live without fear, without hindrance and free of disease. Seven rivers of great puṇya flow there, which take away the fear of pāpa: Sukumārī, Kumārī, Nalinī, Reṇukā, Ikshu, Dhenukā and Gabhasti. These rivers came from svarga, and the people who live on Jalada and the other mountains drink their waters; thousands of small streams and hills are there too. Among the people there is no loss of dharma, no pleasure and pain, and no going beyond the bounds of the śāstras. The four varṇas there are the Magas (brāhmaṇas), the Māgadhas (kshatriyas), the Mānasas (vaiśyas) and the Mandagas (śūdras). Their kula-daiva (family deity) is Vishṇu, and they worship Śrī Hari in the form of Sūrya according to vidhi. Śāka-dvīpa is surrounded by the ocean of milk, of the same measure as the dvīpa.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 20

Sources

• Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 20