Dvipa
Encyclopedia
In Indian mythology
, dvīpa (Devnagari: द्वीप "peninsula, island"; also mahadvipa "great island") is the term for the major divisions of the terrestrial sphere, sometimes translated as "continent
s".
There are either 7, 4or 13 or 18 dvipas. The list of seven (sapta-dvipa) is (e.g. Mahabharata
6.604 = Bhagavad Gita
5.20.3-42):
Seven intermediate oceans consist of salt-water, sugarcane juice, wine, ghee
, curd
, milk and water respectively.,
The list of four is (e.g. Mahabharata 6.208)
The list of 13 adds nine to the four above: Indra-dvipa, Kaseru-mat, Tamra-varna, Gabhasti-mat, Naga-dvipa, Saumya, Gandharva, Varuna and Bharata (Vishnu Purana
2.3.6f.)
They are situated round the Mount Meru, and separated from each other by distinct concentric circumambient oceans.The intermediate oceans consist of salt-water, sugarcane juice, wine, ghee
, curd
, milk and water respectively.,
Indian mythology
Indian mythology may refer to:*Indian epic poetry*Vedic mythology*Hindu mythology*Buddhist mythology*Native American mythology...
, dvīpa (Devnagari: द्वीप "peninsula, island"; also mahadvipa "great island") is the term for the major divisions of the terrestrial sphere, sometimes translated as "continent
Continent
A continent is one of several very large landmasses on Earth. They are generally identified by convention rather than any strict criteria, with seven regions commonly regarded as continents—they are : Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia.Plate tectonics is...
s".
There are either 7, 4or 13 or 18 dvipas. The list of seven (sapta-dvipa) is (e.g. Mahabharata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
6.604 = Bhagavad Gita
Bhagavad Gita
The ' , also more simply known as Gita, is a 700-verse Hindu scripture that is part of the ancient Sanskrit epic, the Mahabharata, but is frequently treated as a freestanding text, and in particular, as an Upanishad in its own right, one of the several books that constitute general Vedic tradition...
5.20.3-42):
- JambuJambudvipaJambudvīpa is the dvipa of the terrestrial world, as envisioned in the cosmologies of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, which is the realm where ordinary human beings live...
("rose apple tree") - Plaksha ("fig tree")
- Go-medaka (a gem)
- Shalmali (a river of the infernal region)
- Kusha ("grass")
- Kraunca ("of curlews")
- ShakaShakdvipaSurrounded by the sea of whey is Shakdvipa with an extent of thirty-two lakh Yojans. It has a huge tree of Shaka, hence its name. With a sweet fragrance of this tree, the whole island emits a pleasant scent. The ruler of this island, Medhatithi was also a son of Priyvrata...
("power", also "of the SakaSakaThe Saka were a Scythian tribe or group of tribes....
") - Pushkara ("lotus")
Seven intermediate oceans consist of salt-water, sugarcane juice, wine, ghee
Ghee
Ghee is a class of clarified butter that originated in South Asia and is commonly used in South Asian cuisine....
, curd
Curd
Curds are a dairy product obtained by curdling milk with rennet or an edible acidic substance such as lemon juice or vinegar, and then draining off the liquid portion. The increased acidity causes the milk proteins to tangle into solid masses, or curds. The remaining liquid, which contains only...
, milk and water respectively.,
The list of four is (e.g. Mahabharata 6.208)
- Bhadrashva
- Ketumalla
- Jambudvipa
- Uttara KuravaUttarakuruUttarakuru is the name of a dvipa in ancient Hindu and Buddhist mythology. The Uttarakuru country and its people are sometimes described as belonging to the real world, whereas at other times they are mythical or otherworldly spiritual beings.-Vedic literature:Aitareya Brahmana makes first...
The list of 13 adds nine to the four above: Indra-dvipa, Kaseru-mat, Tamra-varna, Gabhasti-mat, Naga-dvipa, Saumya, Gandharva, Varuna and Bharata (Vishnu Purana
Vishnu Purana
The Vishnu Purana is a religious Hindu text and one of the eighteen Mahapuranas. It is considered one of the most important Puranas and has been given the name Puranaratna...
2.3.6f.)
They are situated round the Mount Meru, and separated from each other by distinct concentric circumambient oceans.The intermediate oceans consist of salt-water, sugarcane juice, wine, ghee
Ghee
Ghee is a class of clarified butter that originated in South Asia and is commonly used in South Asian cuisine....
, curd
Curd
Curds are a dairy product obtained by curdling milk with rennet or an edible acidic substance such as lemon juice or vinegar, and then draining off the liquid portion. The increased acidity causes the milk proteins to tangle into solid masses, or curds. The remaining liquid, which contains only...
, milk and water respectively.,
See also
- JambudvipaJambudvipaJambudvīpa is the dvipa of the terrestrial world, as envisioned in the cosmologies of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, which is the realm where ordinary human beings live...
- Shakdvipi
- Uttara KuravaUttarakuruUttarakuru is the name of a dvipa in ancient Hindu and Buddhist mythology. The Uttarakuru country and its people are sometimes described as belonging to the real world, whereas at other times they are mythical or otherworldly spiritual beings.-Vedic literature:Aitareya Brahmana makes first...
- Bhagavad GitaBhagavad GitaThe ' , also more simply known as Gita, is a 700-verse Hindu scripture that is part of the ancient Sanskrit epic, the Mahabharata, but is frequently treated as a freestanding text, and in particular, as an Upanishad in its own right, one of the several books that constitute general Vedic tradition...
- ShakdvipaShakdvipaSurrounded by the sea of whey is Shakdvipa with an extent of thirty-two lakh Yojans. It has a huge tree of Shaka, hence its name. With a sweet fragrance of this tree, the whole island emits a pleasant scent. The ruler of this island, Medhatithi was also a son of Priyvrata...