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.
Śiva, Vayasa, Subhadrâ, Sânta, Kshema, Amrita and Abhoya are the Varshas.
Manikûta, Vajrakûta, Indrasena, Jyotishmat, Subarna, Hiranyasthiva and Meghmâla are the seven chief mountains.
Arunâ, Nrimâna, Angirasi, Sâvitri, Supravâtâ, Ritambharâ and Satyambharâ are the seven great rivers.
Hansa, Patanga, Urdhâyana and Satyânga are the corresponding castes.
The dwellers of the Dvipa live for one thousand years. They look like Devas and procreate after Deva fashion. They worship the Sûrya (Sun-god) of the Vedas.
(The Mantra is given)
In Plaksha, Sâlmali, Kusa, Krouncha and Śaka, 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.
Sâlmali Divpa: — Twice as large as Plaksha Dvipa. The ocean of wine surrounding it is equally large.
Tree: — Sâlmali (Bombax Malabaricum) as high as the Plaksha tree said to be the seat of Garuda.
King: Yajna-vâha son of Priyavrata.
Seven Varshas and seven sons of Yajnavaha: — Surochana, Soumanasya, Râmanaka, Devvarha, Pâribhadra, Âpyâyana and Abhijhâta.
Seven principal mountains: — Surasa, Śata Sringa, Vamadeva, Kunda, Kumuda, Pushpa Varsha and Sahosra.
Seven great rivers: — Anumati, Sinivâti, Sarasvati, Kuhu, Rajani, Nandâ and Râkâ.
Divisions of people: — Srutidhara, Viryadhara, Vasundhara, and Ishundhara.
Presiding deity: — The Moon.
Kusa Dvipa: — Twice as large as Sâlmali Dvipa surrounded by an ocean of clarified butter equally large.
Tree: — Clusters of Kusa grass glowing and glittering.
King: — Hiranyaretas son of Priyavrata.
Seven Varshas: — Vasu, Vasudâna, Dridharuchi, Nâbhigupta, Satyavrata, Bikranama, and Devanâma.
Seven mountains: — Babhra, Chatur-Sringa, Kapila Chitra Kûta, Devânika, Urdharomau and Dravina.
Seven Rivers: — Raaskulyâ, Madhukulyâ, Mitravindâ, Srutavindâ, Deva Garbhâ, Ghutachyntâ, and Mantramâlâ.
Divisions of People: — Kusala, Kōvida, Abhiyukta and Kulaka.
Presiding Deity: — Agni (Fire-god).
Krouncha Dvipa: — Twice as large as Kusa, surrounded by an ocean of milk equally large. Named after the Krouncha Mountain. The Krouncha Mountain was attacked by Kârtikeya and injured too. But the Milk Ocean and the presiding deity Varuna saved it.
King: — Ghritaprestha son of Priyavrata.
Seven Varshas: — Âtmâ, Madhuruha, Meghapristha, Sudhâwan, Bhrâjistha, Lohitârna, Vânaspati.
Seven Mountains: — Sukla, Vardhamân, Bhajana, Upavarhaha, Nauda, Nandana and Sarvato-bhadra.
Seven Rivers: — Abhoya, Amritoughâ, Âryukâ, Tirthavati, Rupavati, Pavitravati and Suklâ.
Divisions of people: — Purasha, Rishabha, Dravina and Devaka.
Presiding Deity: Âpas (Water-God.)
Sâka Dvipa: — 32 laksha Yojanas. Surrounded by an ocean of curds — equally extensive.
Tree: — Sâka (Teak wood tree) very fragrant.
King: — Medhâtithi, son of Priyavrata.
Seven Varshas: — Purojava, Manojava, Vepamâna, Dhûmrânika, Chitrarepha, Bahurûpa and Visvâ-dhâra.
Seven Mountains: — Isâna, Uru Sringa, Balabhadra, Sata Kesara, Sahasra-srotas, Devapâla and Mohânasa.
Seven Rivers: — Anaghâ, Âyurdâ, Ubhayaspriti, Aparâjitâ, Punchapadî, Sahasra Sruti and Nijadhriti.
Division of people: — Ritavrata, Satyavrata, Dânavrata and Anuvrata.
Presiding Deity: — Vayu (Wind-god).
Puskkara Dvipa: — Twice as large as Saka Dvipa surrounded by an ocean of pure water — equally extensive: There is a big Pushkara or Lotus plant with thousands of golden leaves. The Lotus is known as the seat of Brahmâ.
Standing between two Varshas, eastern and western, is the Mânasattara Mountain ten thousand Yojanas high. On the four sides of this Mountain are four abodes of the Lokapâlas = Indra and others.
Over these abodes the Sanvatsava or Uttarâyana Dakshinâyana wheel (chakra) of the Sun’s chariot moves in its course round Meru.
Vitihotra, Son of Priyavrata, is the king of this Varsha.
His two sons Râmanaka and Dhâtaka are the lords of two Varshas named after them.
The people of those Varshas worship Brahmâ by Yajna performances.
Beyond the Ocean of pure water is the Lokâloka (Loka and Aloka) Mountain, dividing Loka, the regions lighted by the sun, from Aloka or the regions not lighted by the sun.
As much land as there is between Mânasottara and Meru, so much golden land is there on the other side of the pure water ocean. It is like the surface of the mirror. If any thing is thrown on that land, it is not regained. It is therefore forsaken by all beings. [The land between Mânasottara and Meru is one krore and a half plus seven and a half lakhs. There is as much land on the other side of the Pure Water Ocean. There are living beings in that land. Beyond that is the golden land. That land is eight krores and thirty nine laksha yojanas wide. It is thus that the distance between Meru and Lokâloka comes to be 12 1/2 krores as mentioned below. This is also said in the Śiva Tantra.
Two krores 53 lakshas and 50 thousand this is the measure of the seven Dvipas with the Oceans. Beyond that is the golden land which is 10 Krores of Yojanas. This is used by the Devas as their play-ground. Beyond that is Lokâloka. The ten krores include the previously mentioned land, “Forsaken by all beings” — this is to be understood with the exception of the Devas, for it is mentioned as the play-ground of the Devas. Śridhara.]
In order to understand the commentary of Śridhara, let us examine the figures.
Jambu Dvipa with Ocean on one side of Meru:
...... 150,000 Yojanas
Plaksha Dvipa with Ocean on one side of Meru:
...... 400,000
Sâlmali Do....... 800,000
Kusa Do...... 1,600,000
Krouncha Do...... 3,200,000
Sâka Do...... 6,400,000
Pushkar Do..... 12,800,000
Deduct Pure water Ocean as it is not included between Meru and Mânasottara:
...... 6,400,000
——
18,950,000
Mânasottara stands half way in Pushkara, as it stands between two Varshas. Deduct distance between Mânasottara and Pure Water Ocean:
... 3,200,000
——
15,750,000
The distance between Meru and Mânasottara is 1 1/2 Krores and 7 1/2 lakhs.
According to Śridhara, there is this much land on the other side of the Pure Water Ocean.
Beyond that land is the Golden land which according to Śridhara is:
| ... | ... 83900000 | Yojanas | ||
| Thus we get Dvipas and | Oceans | ... 25350000 | ″ | |
| Land beyond Pure Water | Oceans | ... 15750000 | ″ | |
| The Golden land | ... | ... 83900000 | ″ | |
| 125000000 | ″ |
Thus we get the 12 1/2 krores of Śridhara. Beyond the Golden land is the Lokâloka Mountain. This will also explain the quotation from Śiva Tantra. The following Diagram will partially illustrate the points.
Lokâloka
The Golden Land
——
Land beyond Pure Water Ocean
——
Pure Water Ocean
——
P
u
s
h ( * * Mânasottara
k
a
r
a
Milk Ocean
——
Sâkâ
——
Sour Milk Ocean
——
Krouncha
——
Clarified Butter Ocean
——
Kusa
——
Wine Ocean
——
Sâlmali
——
Sugarcane Juice Ocean
——
Plaksha
——
Salt Ocean
——
* Meru, Jambu
——
The Lokâloka is the boundary of three Lokas, Bhûr, Bhuvar, and Svar.
The rays of the numerous bodies from the Sun up to Dhruva illuminate the regions on the Triloka side of Lokâloka but they can never reach its other side. For such is the height and expanse of Lokâloka — (It is even higher than Dhruva. So it is the boundary of Trilokî. Śridhara).
The Bhu-Golaka or the Bhûr system measures 50 Krores. And Lokâloka is one-fourth of that i.e. 12 1/2 Krores (on one side of Meru. Śridhara).
Over this Lokâloka, Brahmâ placed 4 Elephant Kings in four different directions viz: Rishabha, Pushkarachûra, Vâmana and Aparâjitâ. This is for the preservation of the Lokas.
Bhagavân Mahâ Purusha (Vishnu) Himself remains there. He infuses various powers into the Elephant Kings and into the Lokapâlas (preservers of the Lokas) Indra and others who are but His manifestations. He pervades all. He manifests His pure Satva. The characteristics of that satva are the eight Siddhis.
Dharma, Jnâna, Vairâgya, Aisvarya &c., Vishvaksena and His other Companions are with Him. His own weapons are in his hands. He remains there for the good of all Lokas.
To the end of the Kalpa, Vishnu remains in this way pervading all for the preservation of the Universe formed by His own Mâyâ.
The measure of Aloka is also 12 1/2 Krores (on one side of Meru. Śridhara).
Beyond Aloka is Visuddha (very pure region) where only masters of Yoga can go.
The Sun stands in the centre of the Egg. That is also the middle ground between Svar and Bhûr. Between the Sun and the Circumference of the Egg is 25 Krores.
The Sun is called Mârtanda (Mrita and anda) because in Mrita or dead matter he infused life as Vairâja. He is called Hiranya Garbha (Gold wombed) because he came out of the Golden Egg.
The sun divided space into Bhûr, Bhuvar and Svar. The Sun divides the regions of enjoyment and Moksha. He divides the Narakas and Pâtâlas. He is the Âtmâ of Devas, men, animals, plants and other Jivas. He is the manifester of sight.