Jambudwipa

Brahma Purana discusses about the seven continents and one of them is the Jambudwipa. Brahma Purana states that in the Jambudwipa the Supreme Being is worshipped through sacrifices. It is Lord Vishnu who is identified with sacrifice ceremonies that are carried out. In other Dwipas he is worshipped in other forms. In the Jambudwipa it is believed that it is the subcontinent Bharata which is most excellent since it is the land of holy rites and activities. Other continents are the regions of enjoyment. It is in Jambudwipa that after thousands and thousands of birth alone does a creature attain human birth and sometimes the human birth is attained through the accumulation of merits.

Brahma Purana states that Jambudwipa consists of nine subcontinents and they extend to around hundred thousand Yojanas. The briny sea which is bangle-shaped extends to a hundred thousand Yojanas and encircles the Jambudwipa externally. On the other hand the extent of Jambudwipa is one hundred thousand Yojanas.

It is believed in Brahma Purana that there is neither mental agony nor ailments among the people living there. They feel happy throughout the year. Dharma is of four types among them in accordance with the divisions of Varnas (castes) and Asramas (stages of life). Brahma Purana a mentions that in the centre, there is a big Jambu tree. Hari identical with lord of all, creator of the universe is worshipped in the form of Soma (Moon) by those Varnas, Aryakas and others in the Jambudwipa.

According to the concepts of Purana as it is said that Jambudwipa is also known by the name Sudarshana Dwipa. It is the innermost concentric island of the seven islands that according to the early concepts of the Purana as. Jambudwipa has nine varsas or zones and eight mountains.

Brahma Purana also states that Mount Meru exists in Jambudwipa and it is Mount Meru which supports the entire universe. It is also believed that the summit of Mount Meru is the land of Lord Brahma. Surrounding the city of Lord Brahma are the cities of Indra and other Devatas. It is also believed that River Akash Ganga encloses the city of Brahma and is believed that Akash Ganga issues from the feet of Lord Vishnu. River Akash Ganga gets divided into four parts in the land of Jambudwipa and irrigates the vast land of Jambudwipa. The four different rivers in the land of Jambudwipa are River Sita, river Jambunadi, river Alakananda and river Bhadra. River Sita irrigates the Bhadrasva varsa, the Jambunadi river flows through the Ketumala Varsa, River Alkananda through Bharat Varsa and River Bhadra streams through the Uttara-Kuru Varsa.