Varāha Mahā Purana
88 - Krauñchadvipä
Rudra said:
1. The fourth is Krauñcha, double the dimensions of Kushadvipa, surrounded by an ocean also double in size. In it also there are seven mountains. The first in Krauñcha is Vidyullatä or Raivata, then is Mänasa or Pävaka. Then is Andhakära or Acchodaka. Then is Devävruta which is called also Suräpa. After this is Devishtha, also called Käñchanašhruñga.
2. After Devananda we get Govinda or Dvivinda. Then is Pundarika, which is the same as Toyasaha. These seven mountains in Krauñchadvipa are all high and full of gems.
3. The regions in Krauñcha are: Kušhala or Mädhava, Vämaka or Samvartaka, Ushanavän or Saprakäšha, Pävaka or Sudaršhana, Andhakära or Sammoha, Munidešha or Prakäšha and Dundubhi or Anartha.
4. There are seven rivers: Gauri, Kumudvati, Sandhyä, Rätri, Manojavä, Khyäti and Pundarïka.
5. Gauri is Pushpavahä, Kumudvati is Ärdravati, Sandhyä is Raudrä, (Rätri) is Sukhävahä, (Manojavä) is Bhogajavä, Khyäti is Kshiproda, Pundarïka is Bahulä. The minor rivers have different colours and flow in different regions. Krauñchadvipa is surrounded by (an ocean of) ghee and beyond it is Šhälmali.
Summary of chapter 88 of the Varāha Mahā Purana is as follows:
The narrative focuses on Sage Śukrāchārya, who performed severe penances at Kapālamochana on the banks of river Sarasvatī to earn the grace of Parameśvara Śiva. Blessed by Mahādeva Śiva, Śukrāchārya received the sacred knowledge of Mṛtasañjīvanī and attained unmatched spiritual radiance. The chapter extols Kapālamochana as a holy ground where earnest seekers acquire divine intellect, spiritual strength, and freedom from dark influences.