48 - The description of Jambudvipa

This chapter gives a mythological description of the abodes of gods etc. in Jambudvipa. M. Ali in The Grog. of the Puranas has located some of these mountains. It appears that Jambudvipa covered practically the major part of Eurasia (and probably some part of N. Africa also).

Suta said: 

1. The crystalline mansion of Parameshthin the lord of Devas, is on the beautiful great peak of the mountain Hemakūţa. 

2. There, Devas and Siddhas along with the sages, always perform the worship of the Trident-bearing overlord of Devas, the ruler of living beings. 

3. Mahadeva, the Pinaka-bearing lord, Maheshvara, Girisha, accompanied by the goddess, shines there forever, surrounded by his goblins. 

4. Mount Kailasa with its beautiful and separate peaks stands there. It is the residence of a crore of Yaksas and of the intelligent Kubera. 

5-7. There too stands the great abode of lord Shiva, the Overlord of Devas. The holy river Mandakini, beautiful with its translucent waters is embellished with many and various kinds of lotuses. Waters of the highly sacred and beautiful river are always drunk by Devas, Danavas, Gandharvas, Yakshas, Rakshasas and Kinnaras. They are holy and very beautiful. There are many other rivers, hundreds of them, bedecked with golden lotuses. 

8. On the banks of those rivers are the abodes of Lord Parameshthin as well as of Narayana. They are resorted to by Devas and sages. 

9-10a. On its peak (?) is the splendid and auspicious grove of Parijata trees. The large abode of Indra adorned with jewels is also there. It contains crystal columns, and is bedecked in golden domes and ornamental gateways. 

10b-12a. The holy abode of lord Vishnu, the Atman of the Universe, the lord of Devas, is situated thus. It is beautiful and bedecked with all kinds of jewels. The glorious Narayana, the lord of the Universe, the excellent lord of everyone, the eternal deity, abides there. 

12b-13a. Similarly, on the mountain peak called Vasudhara, there stands the holy abode of Vasus, the most excellent of all abodes. It is bedecked in jewels and is unthwartable by the enemies of gods. 

13b-14a. The seven sacred hermitages of the noble-souled seven sages are on the excellent mountain Ratnadhara. The hermitages are sacred and are joined to the residences of the Siddhas. 

14b-15a. The highly auspicious and pure abode of god Brahma, born of the Unmanifest, is also there. It is built of gold and is embellished with diamonds, sapphire and other precious gems, and it has four doorways. 

15b-16a. O Brahmanas, Devas and sages, Siddhas and other Brahmanical ascetics worship the unborn Pitamaha, the great lord of Devas, there. 

16b-17a. The four-faced deity is always worshipped along with the goddess Savitri by everyone. He is the greatest goal of all quiescent ones. For the welfare of the world he stays there. 

17b-18. On one of its summits, which is decorated with great lotuses, there is a great sacred lake which is very fragrant with nectar-like pure water. Near that is the holy hermitage of Jaigishavya which is frequented by leading Yogins.

19. It is here that the venerable sage stays always surrounded by all his distinguished disciples who are noble-souled, devoid of faults and sins, and knowers of Brahman. 

20-21. His disciples are Shankha, Manohara, Kaushika, Krishna, Sumanas and Vedavada. Thanks to his grace, they are engaged in all yogic activities and are quiescent. With their bodies dusted with Bhasma (ashes), those preceptors, engrossed in the Brahmavidya (Learning of the Brahman), worship him (Jaigishavya). 

22. In order to bless the recluses of tranquil minds, Maheshvara remains near them there along with the goddess. 

23. On that excellent mountain, there are many hermitages of sages whose minds are absorbed in Yoga. There are many lakes and rivers too. 

24. In those hermitages blissfully live Brahmanas engaged in Yoga, the performers of Japa, of fully controlled sense-organs and of minds attached to and absorbed in the Brahman, and devoted to spiritual knowledge. 

25. With their Atman (individual soul) fixed on the Cosmic soul, they meditate on the lord Ishana stationed on the peak of the mountain but pervading the universe. 

26. There is Sumegha, the abode of Indra, resembling a thousand suns in brilliance. There abides Lord Indra, the overlord of gods, along with his consort Shachi. 

27. The abode of Durga is on the mountain Gajashaila. It has jewelled portals. Goddess Durga, the great Ishvari herself stays there. 

28. Waited upon and served everywhere by different Shaktis (divine powers), she drinks the Yogic nectar pertaining to Lord Shiva, after obtaining it directly from him. 

29. O Brahmanas, on the summit of the mountain Sunila, shining brilliantly, thanks to the various kinds of minerals, are the cities of Rakshasas as well as hundreds of lakes. 

30. O Brahmanas, similarly, on the mountain Mahachala that has a hundred (beautified) peaks, there are hundreds of cities with crystal columns. They are inhabited by Yakshas of boundless prowess

31. On the summit of the mountain Shvetodara is the city of the noble-souled Suparna (Garuda). It has ramparts and arched gateways and is embellished with jewelled portals. 

32. The glorious Garuda stays there like another Vishnu incarnate. He meditates upon the Supreme, immutable refulgence, within his Atman. 

33. O leading sages, there is another holy abode of Goddess Shri on the peak called Shrishrunga. It is of gold, richly endowed with jewels and fitted with portals studded with jewels. 

34-35. The greatest Shakti of Vishnu, Lakshmi of infinite prosperity, very charming and eager to fascinate the whole universe, occupies that abode. She is revered by the Gandharvas, Siddhas and Charanas. The goddess should be contemplated upon as the source of origin of the universe and refulgent with the rays of her own divine power. 

36. At that very place is the great abode of Vishnu, the lord of Devas. There are four lakes there, containing beautiful lotuses of variegated colours. 

37. On the mountain Sahasrashikhara (having a thousand peaks), there are eight cities of the Vidyadharas, which are fitted with jewelled staircases and are embellished with lakes. 

38. The rivers hereof contain pure (crystal clear) water and are the receptacles of very wonderful blue lotuses. 

There is a divine grove of Karnikara flowers where Shankara himself (v.l. with Amba) stays. 

39. The auspicious city of Mahalakshmi is on the mountain Parijata (v.l. Pari-patra). It is endowed with beautiful palaces and is decorated with bells and chowries. 

40. It is beautified by the troupes of celestial damsels dancing here and there, and is filled with the sound of tabors (Mrudangas) and Panavas and resonant with the notes of flutes and lutes everywhere. 

41. It is crowded with Gandharvas and Kinnaras and encircled by extremely brilliant Siddhas. It is teeming with great palatial buildings. 

42. It is resorted to by the lords of Ganas and is extremely attractive to look at for the virtuous. It is there that the goddess, engaged in Yoga abides forever.

43-44a. Only the sages who have accomplished Siddhis and are expounders of Brahman (or Veda) can visualize there the three-eyed great goddess Mahalakshmi, the wielder of an excellent trident and surrounded by all divine powers and identical with them. 

44b-45a. The excellent city of Sarasvati is on the northern side of Suparshva. O excellent ones, the lakes thereof are frequented by the Siddhas. They are worthy of being enjoyed by Devas. 

45b-46a. On the summit of the mount Pandura which abounds in wonderful trees, there are hundreds of cities of Gandharvas teeming with celestial women. 

46b-47a. In them, proud and inebriated men and women, full of charms, eager after enjoyment of pleasure, joyfully sport forever. 

47b-49a. On the summit of the mount Anjana is the excellent city of celestial ladies. Rambha and other Apsaras stay there cager in their sexual dalliance. Chitrasena and other suppliants come there (as Suitors) forever. O excellent ones that city is rich in all kinds of precious stones. 

.: 495-5la. O excellent ones! On the Kaumuda (mountain top) there are many cities of Rudras whose rajo-guna (or passion) is subsided and whose minds are attached to Ishvara (Shiva). Those Rudras of great Yogic power and (capable of) moving in the inner circle of god Shiva and occupying the position of god Shiva's lustre abide in that city. 

51b-52a. On the summit of mountain Pinjara, there are three cities of the lords of ganas (Shiva's attendants). In the city called Kapila of Nandishvara, that highly intelligent Gana-chief Nandishvara stays. 

52b-53a. On the summit of Jarudhi is the shining holy abode of Bhaskara (the Sun-god) of unmeasured splendour, the intelligent lord of Devas. 

53b-54a. To the northern side of the same is the excellent abode of the moon-god. It is there that the lord of cool rays and beautiful soul stays. 

54b-56a. O great sages, on the mount Hamsa there is a divine abode. It extends to a thousand Yojanas. It is fitted with golden portals studded with jewels. Lord Brahma, the soul of the Universe, praised by groups of Siddhas and accompanied by Vasudeva (v.l. Vamadeva) and others stays there in the company of his consort Savitri. 

56b-57a. To the southern side of the same is the excellent city of the Siddhas where leading sages headed by Sanandana and others dwell quietly. 

57b. The three cities of Danavas are on the summit of the mountain Pancha-Shaila. 

58-59a. Not far from it is the abode of the intelligent preceptor of Daityas (viz. Shukra). The holy hermitage of Kardama is on the peak of the mountain Sugandha, the beauty of which is heightened by rivers. The holy sage stays there. 

59b-60a. To the eastern side of the same, a little to the south stays Sanatkumara, the holy sage, the greatest among the knowers of Brahman. 

606-61. O leading sages, on all these mountains and others there are lakes, rivers of translucent waters and the shrines of deities. There are sacred Siddhalingas installed by the sages.

62. It is impossible to enumerate those shrines. Thus, the description of Jambudvipa is given in brief. It is impossible for me to recount it in detail even in hundreds of years.