A Study of the Bhagavata Purana or Esoteric Hinduism Part 25

_Hiranmaya._

Kurma (the Tortoise Incarnation) presides over Hiranmaya. Aryaman the chief of the Pitris dwells there with others.

(Mantra and prayer follow)

_Kuru._

Varsha or the Boar Incarnation presides over Kuru. Bhur with the dwellers of Kuru adore him.

(Mantra and prayer follow.)

_Kinpurusha._

In Kinpurusha, Hanuman with the dwellers of the Varsha wors.h.i.+p the Adipurusha Rama, brother of Lakshamana and husband of Sita.

(Mantra and prayer follow.)

_Bharat Varsha._

Nara Narayana presides over this Varsha. There are various (castes) and asramas in this Varsha. Narada of great devotion leads the people of this Varsha. His object in so doing is to teach to Savarni, the coming Manu, the Sankhya and Yoga (as related in the Bhagavat Gita) together with the full realisation of Bhagavat (as related in the Pancharatras).

[This mission of Narada is specially noteworthy.]

( Mantra and prayer follow.)

In this Bharata Varsha there are many mountains and rivers.

Maloya, Mangalaprastha, Mainaka, Trikuta, Rishava, Kutaka, Konva, Sahya, Rishyamuka, Srisaila, Venkata, Mahendra, Varidhara, Vindhya, Saktiman, Riksha, Paripatra, Drona, Chitrakuta, Gobardhana, Raivatak, Kakubha, Nila, Gokamukha, Indrakila, Kamagiri and hundreds and thousands of other mountains are situated in this Varsha.

The following are the princ.i.p.al rivers Chandvavasa, Tamvaparni, Avatoda, Kritamala, Vaihayasi, Kaveri, Venua, Payasvini, Sarkaravarta, Krishnavenua, Bhimrathi, G.o.dabari, Nirvindhya, Payoshni, Tapi, Reva, Surasa, Narmada, Charmanvati, Andha, Sona, Mahanadi, Vedasmriti, Ris.h.i.+kulya, Trisama, Kousiki, Mandakini, Yamuna, Sarasvati, Drishadvati, Gomati, Saraju, Aghavati, Shasthavati, Saptavati, Satadru, Sushoma, Chandrabhaga, Maruduridha, Vitasta, Asikini and Visva.

Those that acquire birth in this Varsha have recourse to Svarga, humanity and Naraka respectively, according as their Karma is White (Satvic), Red (Rajasic) or Black (Tamasic). The People acquire Moksha in this Varsha in accordance with their Varna (Caste). (This is because Karma according to caste prevails in this Varsha, not that Moksha is not otherwise attainable. _Sridhara_).

And what is moksha in this Varsha? It is the Companions.h.i.+p of Mahatmas (Mahapurushas) brought about by the destruction of the bonds of Avidya caused by various births. And that Moksha is in reality unceasing, unselfish devotion to the All-pervading, Indestructible, Causeless Paramatma Vasudeva.

Even the Devas say: - "How fortunate are these people of Bharat Varsha!

For Hari is kind to them, even without many performances and they are so adapted for communion with Hari by devotion. We have attained Svarga by the performance of Yajna. But we shall have to be born again after the end of the Kalpa. What good is in this state, which does not bring us in direct communion with Vishnu? These people of Bharat Varsha even with their short lives acquire the state of Hari. If there be any Karma left to us after the enjoyment of Svarga may we be born as men that we may wors.h.i.+p Hari."

Some say there are eight upadvipas in Jambu Dvipa, formed by the sons of Sagara when they dug up this earth in search of the sacrificial horse.

They are Svarna Prastha, Chandra Sukla, avartana, Ramanaka, Manda-harina, Panchajanya, Sinhala and Louka.

THE DVIPAS.

*SKANDHA V. CHAP. 20.*

_Plaksha Dvipa_

Jambu Dvipa is surrounded by the salt ocean on all sides. That ocean extends over Laksha Yojanas. That salt ocean is again surrounded on all sides by Plaksha Dvipa, which extends over 2 laksha of Yojanas.

There is one golden Plaksha tree in that Dvipa as high as the Jambu tree in Jambu Dvipa and the Dvipa itself takes its name from that tree. There Fire is seven tongued,

Idhmajihva son of Priyavrata ruled over this Dvipa. He divided the Dvipa into seven Varshas and named them after his seven sons each of whom ruled over the Varsha of his name.

Siva, Vayasa, Subhadra, Santa, Kshema, Amrita and Abhoya are the Varshas.

Manikuta, Vajrakuta, Indrasena, Jyotishmat, Subarna, Hiranyasthiva and Meghmala are the seven chief mountains.

Aruna, Nrimana, Angirasi, Savitri, Supravata, Ritambhara and Satyambhara are the seven great rivers.

Hansa, Patanga, Urdhayana and Satyanga are the corresponding castes.

The dwellers of the Dvipa live for one thousand years. They look like Devas and procreate after Deva fas.h.i.+on. They wors.h.i.+p the Surya (Sun-G.o.d) of the Vedas.

(The Mantra is given)

In Plaksha, Salmali, Kusa, Krouncha and Saka, the inmates have their age, Indriyas, strength, power and Budhi by their very birth and not by Karma.

The Dvipa is surrounded by the Sugar cane juice ocean which extends over 2 laksha of Yojanas.

_Salmali Divpa:_ - Twice as large as Plaksha Dvipa. The ocean of wine surrounding it is equally large.

_Tree:_ - Salmali (Bombax Malabaric.u.m) as high as the Plaksha tree said to be the seat of Garuda.

_King:_ Yajna-vaha son of Priyavrata.

_Seven Varshas and seven sons of Yajnavaha:_ - Surochana, Soumanasya, Ramanaka, Devvarha, Paribhadra, apyayana and Abhijhata.

_Seven princ.i.p.al mountains:_ - Surasa, Sata Sringa, Vamadeva, Kunda, k.u.muda, Pushpa Varsha and Sahosra.

_Seven great rivers:_ - Anumati, Sinivati, Sarasvati, Kuhu, Rajani, Nanda and Raka.

_Divisions of people:_ - Srutidhara, Viryadhara, Vasundhara, and Ishundhara.

_Presiding deity:_ - The Moon.

_Kusa Dvipa:_ - Twice as large as Salmali Dvipa surrounded by an ocean of clarified b.u.t.ter equally large.

_Tree:_ - Cl.u.s.ters of Kusa gra.s.s glowing and glittering.

_King:_ - Hiranyaretas son of Priyavrata.

_Seven Varshas:_ - Vasu, Vasudana, Dridharuchi, Nabhigupta, Satyavrata, Bikranama, and Devanama.

_Seven mountains:_ - Babhra, Chatur-Sringa, Kapila Chitra Kuta, Devanika, Urdharomau and Dravina.