Srimad Bhagavatam – The features of Jambudvipa. (sometimes small details, like the names of some mountains, are switched around in other puranas)
The features of Jambudvipa as described in the 5th Canto of the Srimad Bhagavata Purana. Sometimes small details, like the names of some mountains, are switched around in other puranas. Jambūdvīpa Meru Sumeru flat-earth bhu-mandala
Plainly the earth is not 9000 yojanas in size, more like 1000 is the diameter. How do you make sense of this? There is mention in some Puranas that there are nine divisions of Bharata and we reside on just one, called variously as Sudarshan, Gandharva, Navadvipa or just Bharata. Any thoughts?
Krishna Dharma, there are many slokas in the Puranas that give different values to the yojana. There are a dozen slokas that state the distance between Gangotri and Cape Kanyakumari, amongst other identifiable landmarks, are 1,000 yojanas apart. Today this equates to about 1.5 miles per yojana or 8,300 yojanas from Earth’s northern limit to its southern limit. Secondly, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati states the yojana is approx. 5 miles for astronomical purposes, which agrees with the measure provided in the 54th chapter of the Narada Purana. Thirdly, it is stated in several Puranas that the length of the yojana is relative to the height of man and the size of a cow, both of which gradually decrease in size within Bharata-varsa as a result of the decline in yugas. Fourthly, there are statements in every Purana before the measurements of Jambudvipa are given, that the mathematics of Bhu-mandala and its mountains are inconceivable (achintya) and simply guesswork when calculated by conditioned souls. To theorize that the yojana remains at 8 miles within the boundary of Bharata-varsa is not supported by shastra.
Regarding the nine divisions of Bharata-varsa, their creation and their individual kingdoms are discussed in detail in the Skanda Purana, where the size and location of Indradvipa-khanda and Kumarika-khanda are identified without doubt. From this evidence, and from that in the Markandeya Purana, the Brahmanda Purana, the Mahabharata, and the Brihat-Samhita, there is no indication that Earth is only one khanda of Bharata-varsa, as popularised by Danavir Goswami and other contemporary Vedic cosmologists.
The term ‘navadvipa’ comes from Srila Visvanatha Cakravati’s commentary on the Vishnu and Bhagavata Puranas. He clearly indicates the Indian Peninsular is the ‘navadvipa’, which is surrounded by the other khandas. He places the Kiratas (Indo-Chinese) on the eastern border, the Assamese (Kamarupa) within the eastern part, Magadha (South Bihar) and Odhas (Odisha) and Kalinga (extending to Andhra Pradesh) in the southern part, and the Yavanas (Turks and Greeks) on the western boundary of this 1,000 north-south yojana ‘Navadvipa’ or ‘Bharata-khanda’. There is no possible misidentification that this khanda he is describing is the Indian subcontinent.
The term “Sudarsanadvipa” is found only in the Mahabharata. Danavir Goswami has done a great job of twisting his translation to fit his own model. There is no mention of a sphere bael-fruit in the Sanskrit. In the Sanskrit, Sudarsanadvipa contains all NINE VARSAS OF JAMBUDVIPA and is therefore circular [parimaṇḍalo] like a wheel [cakrasaṃsthitaḥ], surrounded on all sides [samantāt] by the ocean [samudreṇa]. There is no mention of a “Wheel of Time” or a “Kala-Cakra” in the Sanskrit ie; no mention of ‘kala’ or ‘vela’ (time). In the Sanskrit there is no mention of the peepal-shaped leaves, only the figtree. The Sanskrit says two parts resemble an Indian hare, and two parts resemble a peepal (Indian figtree). The Sanskrit says (06,006.016a) “two parts figtree in that place two parts hare large”.
06,006.012a sudarśanaṃ pravakṣyāmi dvīpaṃ te kurunandana
06,006.012c parimaṇḍalo mahārāja dvīpo ‘sau cakrasaṃsthitaḥ
06,006.014c lāvaṇena samudreṇa samantāt parivāritaḥ
06,006.015a yathā ca puruṣaḥ paśyed ādarśe mukham ātmanaḥ
06,006.015c evaṃ sudarśanadvīpo dṛśyate candramaṇḍale
06,006.016a dvir aṃśe pippalas tatra dvir aṃśe ca śaśo mahān
06,006.016c sarvauṣadhisamāvāpaiḥ sarvataḥ paribṛṃhitaḥ
06,006.016e āpas tato ‘nyā vijñeyā eṣa saṃkṣepa ucyate
06,006.016f*0022_01 tato ‘nya ucyate cāyam enaṃ saṃkṣepataḥ śṛṇu
Nowhere in the Sanskrit is Bharata equated with Sudarsanadvipa, look where the word Bhārata is used within the list of varṣas of Kiṃpuruṣā, Harivarṣa, Bhadrāśva, Ketumāla, & Kuru.
06,007.006a idaṃ tu bhārataṃ varṣaṃ tato haimavataṃ param
06,007.006b*0026_01 tataḥ kiṃpuruṣāvāsaṃ varṣaṃ himavataḥ param
06,007.006c hemakūṭāt paraṃ caiva harivarṣaṃ pracakṣate
06,007.011c bhadrāśvaḥ ketumālaś ca jambūdvīpaś ca bhārata
06,007.011d*0028_01 ketumālaś caturthaś ca meroḥ paścimataḥ sthitaḥ
06,007.011e uttarāś caiva kuravaḥ kṛtapuṇyapratiśrayāḥ
To summarize,
*The Earth could be 9000 yojanas in size, (especially north-south if Bharata-varsa = Earth as stated in the Bhagavatam)
*There are nine divisions/khandas/dvipas of Bharata, and they are described in detail in the Puranas. Earth is not one of them, the Puranas state they are divisions of 1) The Earth OR 2) Greater India. The location of Indradvipa and Kumarika is given in the Skanda and Brahmanda Puranas.
*The Mahabharata states that Sudarsana-dvipa is Jambudvipa, not the Earth.
*Navadvipa (or more properly Kumarika-khanda) is the central khanda of Bharata as stated in the Caitanya Caritamrita (Antya 2.10), and the Indian Peninsular as stated by the Vishnu Purana and by acaryas Srila Visvanath Cakravarti, Sri Swami, Vīrarāghava and Śrī Vaṁśīdhara.
Thank you prabhu. Very nice research work and points. My particular interest lies in the fact that I am currently working on a dramatic retelling of Srimad Bhagavatam and have reached Canto 5, so I am looking for various perspectives on the cosmology section. It’s not really my forte, I am just a writer really, but I joined a BI boffins Google discussion group and they are looking at the idea of a variable yojana value, following on from Sadaputa prabhu’s work. As you say, there are no compelling or sastric reasons why it should be 8 miles, and as you also point out SBSST gives it a different value. I think 8 miles roughly works for the currently accepted distance to the sun of 93m miles when we look at the yojana distance to Manasottara, but we run into issues elsewhere, as you say. What are your views on the Bhugola Varananam? Vadiraja Tirtha seems to accept that the earth is just one part of Bharata Varsha, it seems. It would be great if you joined the BI group, I think. They are about to hold a Zoom conference with various papers being presented on vedic Cosmography. I could ask the organiser, Prishni Sutton, if you could join. I’m sure you could make a significant contribution. (Maybe you are already invited, I’m not sure). ys, Kdd
Hare Krishna Prabhu, I agree that the 5th Canto is not an easy topic. I would like to be invited to a zoom conference on Vedic Cosmology if you could arrange an invitation. I have studied all the books on Cosmology by HG Sadaputa Prabhu, HH Danavir Goswami, The Chowpatty Cosmology Institute, and many Facebook groups on the 5th Canyo.
I don’t find Bhugola Varanam a significant contribution because it mostly rephrases the Bhagavatam. Most of my revelations have come from reading all 18 Puranas and comparing them to the Jyotisha Shastras. It is, however, unfortunate that some researchers cherry-pick slokas or twist translations to support their own theories. I began without bias and followed the words of both Vyasadeva and Srila Prabhupada as my guides, and have found information that others have missed.
It would be convenient if you could reach me through Messenger/Facebook as Soolaba Doyle. Please send a friend request and zoom invitation on that platform, many thanks.