16 - Seven Continents 

Seven Continents: (1) Jambu (2) Säka, (3) Kusa, (4) Plaksha, (5) Puşkara, (6) Sālmali (7) Krauñcha. A short description of these continents is as follows: (1) Jambū—It is the central one of the seven continents surrounding the mountain Meru, so called either from the Jambů trees abounding in it or from an enormous Jambu trec on Mount Meru visible like a standard to the whole continent. See S. M. Ali, Op. cit., chapters V-VII on Jambūdvipa.

(2) Sāka can be identificd with Malaya, Siam, Indo-China and Southern China or the South-Eastern corner of the land mass of which Jambūdvipa occupied the centre. 

(3) Kuša included Iran, Iraq, the south-western corner of the land mass round Meru. 

(4) Plaksha identificd with the basin of Mediterranian sincc Plaksha or Pakhara tree is the characteristic of warm temperate or Mediterranian lands identifiable with Greece and adjoining lands. 

(5) Puskara covered the whole of Japan, Manchuria and the south-eastern Siberia. 

(6) Salmala—the tropical part of Africa bordering the Indian Ocean on the West. It included Madagasgar-the Zenj of the Arab and Persian geo graphers, the Harina of the Purāņas and the Samkhadvipa of some other writers. 

(7) KrauSea is represented by the basin of the Black Sea. 

(8) Upadvipas (sub-continents): (1) Bhārata (2) Kimpuruşa (3) Harivarşa (4) Ramyaka (5) Hiranmaya (6) Uttarakuru (7) Ilavruta (8) Bhadrāśva and (9) Ketumāla. According to P.E. (p. 342) there are eight long mountain ranges which divide the island Jambu into 9 countries which look like nine petals of the lotus flower. The two countries of the north and south extremities (Bhadra and Ketumala) arc bow-shaped. Four of the remaining seven are longer than the rest. The central country is known as Ilāvruta. 

The sages said: 

1-9. A wonderfully great narrative has been related by you. The stories of Bharata kings, of Devas, Dänavas, Gandharvas, Nāgas, Rakşhasas, Daityas, Siddhas, and Guhyakas have been narrated; their wonderful exploits, activities and holy rites have been recounted. Different divine stories and excellent nativities have been mentioned. O highly intelligent one, the creation of Brahma, Prajapatis, Guhyakas and celestial nymphs has also been narrated by you. How the mobile and immobile beings were born, how the manifold universe originated has been told by you, O highly blessed one. This beautiful narration has been heard by us. The ancient tradition that yields meritorious benefits has been mentioned in sweet and smooth flowing words. It delights our mind as well as our car. It is on a par with nectar. Now we wish to hear about the entire zone of the earth. O omniscient one, it behoves you speak it out. We are very eager to hear. How many are the oceans, continents sub-continents, mountains, forests, sacred rivers and holy spots of Devas etc. O highly intel ligent one, what is the magnitude of each, what is their support? Of what nature are they? It behoves you to narrate the stance of this universe precisely. 

Lomaharşhana said: 

10. O sages, please hear as I succinctly relate it to you. A full detailed description of it is impossible even in the course of a hundred years. 

11-12. O brahmins, there are seven continents viz-Jambu, Plaksha, Sālmala, Kuśa, Krauñcha, Saka and Puskara. These are encircled by seven oceans, the briny ocean, sea of the sugar cane juice, wine, ghee, curds, milk and sweet water. 

13. The Jambūdvipa is situated in the middle. In its centre, O leading brahmins, is the Meru the mountain of gold. 

14-15. Its over-all height is eightyfour thousand Yojanas. Sixteen thousand Yojanas of it constitute the portion beneath the ground. The peak portion extends to thirtytwo thousand Yojanas. At its root the extent all-round is sixteen thousand Yojanas. This mountain stands as the pericarp of the lotus of the earth. 

16. The Himavan, Hemakūta and Nişadha are the Varsa mountains to its South. The Nīla, Sveta and Sșngin are the Varşa mountains in the north. 

17. The two in the middle extend to a hundred thousand (Yojanas) and others are ten (thousand Yojanas) less. They are two thousand Yojanas in height and girth. 

18-24. Bharata is the first sub continent, then is the Kim puruşa Varșa O brahmins, these and another varsa viz. Harivarsa are to the South of Meru. Ramyaka is a northern sub continent. Next to it, is Hiranmaya. The northern Kurus are like Bhärata. O excellent brahmins, cach of these extends to nine thousand Yojanas. There is the Ilavruta Varsa. In its centre stands the lofty golden Meru. O highly blessed ones, the Ilavruta Varşa extends to nine thousand Yojanas in all directions from Meru. There are four mountains here which stand as the exten sive supporting pillars of Meru. They extend to ten thousand Yojanas. The mountain Mandara lies in the east, Gandhama dana is to the south. Vipula is to the west and the Supārsva is to the north. There stand the following trees-Kadamba, Jambū Pippala and Vata as the flag staff of mountains. They extend to eleven hundred Yojanas. O excellent brahmins, the Jambū tree gives the name Jambūdvīpa to this continent. 

25. Each of the fruits of this Jambū tree is of the size of a huge elephant. These fruits fall all over the top of the mountain and get shattered and Seattered. 

26. By the juice of these, the famous Jambu river flows and it is being drunk by the people staying there. 

27. The people there are hale and hearty and sound in mind because they drink it. They never even perspire. No bad. odour comes out of their bodies. They do not experience old age or debility of sense-organs. 

28. The clay on the banks gets soaked in the juice. When it gets dry by the gentle wind that blows there it becomes gold. It is called Jāmbūnada. The ornaments for Siddhas are made thereof. 

29. The Bhadraśva subcontinent is to the east of Meru, Ketumala is to the west. O excellent sages, between these two Varşas lies the Ilāvsta Varşa. 

30. The park of Chaitraratha is in the east; the Gandhamädana is in the south; the Vaibhrāja is in the west and the Nandana is in the north. 

31. There are four lakes frequented and enjoyed by Devas the Arunoda, Mahabhadra, Asitoda and Manasa. 

32. The Kesara mountains to the east of Meru are Såntavān, Chakrakumbha, Kurari, Mályavān, Vaikanka and others. 

33. Trikūta, Siśira, Patanga, Ruchaka, Nişadha and others are the Kesara mountains to the south of Meru. 

34. Sikhivāsa, Vaidurya, Käpila, Gandhamādana, Jänudhi etc. are the Kesara mountains to the west. 

35-39. They are very proximate to the Meru and are stationed in its belly. Sankhakūta, Ruşabha, Hamsa, Nága, Kālañjara etc. are the Kesara mountains to the north. 

O leading brahmins, at a height of fourteen thousand Yojanas on the Meru is the great city of Brahmā. All round it in the eight quarters are the excellent and famous cities of Indra and other guardians of the quarters. 

Originating from the foot of Vişhnu and flooding the disc of the moon Gangå falls down from Heaven to the city of Brahma and flows all round. Having fallen there it flows into four streams in the four directions. 

40-46. They are Sītā, Alakananda, Chakşu and Bhadrā in order. 

The Sītā flows along the firmament to the East from mountain to mountain. Then through Bhadrāśva, the Varsa in the east, it flows into the ocean. 

Similarly, O excellent brahmins the Alakanandā flows to the south, approaches Bhārata and splitting itself into seven streams it flows into the ocean. 

The Chakşu crosses the western mountains and reaches Ketu mäla the western Varsa and then flows into the sea. 

O excellent brahmins, the Bhadra crosses the northern mountains and the northern Kurus and then flows into the northern ocean. 

The mountains Mālyavan and Gandhamadana extend upto Nīla and Nişadha mountains. The Meru is in the centre of these two. It is stationed in the form of pericarp. 

The Bharatas, Ketumalas, Bhadrāśvas and Kurus are the petals of Loka mountain outside the mountains of boundary. 

The Jathara and Devakūta are the two mountains of boundary. They extend from south to north between Nila and Nişadha mountains. 

47-51. The Gandhamádana and the Kailasa extend from west to east, to eighty thousand Yojanas. They are stationed in the ocean. Nişadha and Pariyātra—the two mountains of boundary-extend from south to north between Nila and Nişadha. They are stationed to the east and west of Meru. 

The Triśrunga and the Jarudhi are the northern Varsa mountains. They extend from east to west and are stationed within the ocean; they extend from one ocean to another. 

Thus, O brahmins, the boundary mountains have been mentioned by me. They are stationed in pairs within the belly of Meru in all the four quarters. 

52-53. Around the Meru the Kesara mountains are situated. They have already been mentioned alongwith Sītānta and others. O brahmins, the water troughs amongst those mountains are very charming. They are frequented by Siddhas and Chåraņas. The forests and the cities in them are very beautiful. 

54. There are excellent shrines of Lakşmi, Vişhņu, Agni, Sürya and Indra in them, O excellent sages. They are frequented by men and Kinnaras. 

55. Gandharvas, Yakşhas, Rākşhasas, Daityas and Dänavas sport about in those charming water troughs day and night. 

56. O brahmins, these places are heavens on earth. They are abodes of the righteous. Those who commit sins never go there even after hundreds of births. 

57. O brahmins, in the Bhadrāśva sub-continent lord Vişhnu stays as Hayasiras with the head of a horse; in the Ketumala he stays in the form of a boar and in the Bhārata he assumes the form of a tortoise. 

58. Eternal Govinda stays in the Kurus in the form of a fish. Hari, the lord of all, stays everywhere in his Visvarūpa (Universal form). 

59-62. O brahmins, he is the support of all and identical with all. 

O excellent brahmins, in the eight Varşas, Kimpuruşa etc. there is neither misery, nor fatigue, neither strain nor fear of hunger. 

The subjects are healthy and sound, free from agony and devoid of distress. They live upto ten or twelve thousand years. No earthly worries such as hunger or thirst assail them, O brahmins. In these sports there is no such division of time: Kruta, Tretā, Dväpara and Kali. 

In each of thesc Varşas there are seven mountains called Kulacalas.¹ O excellent sages, hundreds of rivers flow there. 

1. Kulaparvatas-Kulaparvata is a chief mountain range. Kulaparvatas are seven in number. Any one of these is supposed to exist in each Varsa or division of a continent. The principal seven ranges of Bhārata Varsa include (1) Mahendra (2) Malaya (3) Sahya (4) Suktimat (5) Rukşa (6) Vindhya and (7) Pāriyatra. (See 17.3)