Dvipa (
Sanskrit: द्वीप,
lit. 'island',
IAST: Dvīpa)[1] is a term in
Hindu cosmography. The
Puranas describe a dvipa to be one of the seven islands[2] or continents that are present on earth, each of them surrounded by an ocean.[3] The same terminology is also used to refer to the seven regions of the cosmos.[4][5]
In the geocentric model of Hinduism, the seven dvipas are present around
Mount Meru, which is present at the centre of
Jambudvipa,[6] the term employed for the
Indian subcontinent.[7] Dvipa is also sometimes used to refer to the abodes of deities, such as
Manidvipa.[8]
Etymology
The word dvipa is a portmanteau of the
Sanskrit words dvī (two) and apa (water),[9] meaning "having water on two sides".[10] It is cognate with the
Young Avestan 'duuaēpa', which means the same.[11]
According to the
Matsya Purana and the
Bhagavata Purana, the world is divided into seven dvipas, termed as the sapta-dvīpa (the seven islands).[12] The
Mahabharata names the following as the seven islands of the world:[13]
Beneath the celestial regions, the earth is arranged in these seven concentric rings of island continents.
Jambudvipa is the innermost of these island continents, shaped like a disc. The earth rests upon the head of
Shesha, the cosmic serpent, who is himself supported by the tortoise named
Akupara, who is supported by the
Ashtadiggajas, the eight celestial elephants that stand on the shell of
Brahmanda.
Plaksha is the second of the ring-shaped continents, surrounded by a sea of sugarcane juice.
Shalmala is the third of the ring-shaped continents, surrounded by a sea of wine.
Kusha is the fourth of the ring-shaped continents, surrounded by a sea of clarified butter (ghee).
Krauncha is the fifth of the ring-shaped continents, surrounded by a sea of curds.
Shaka or Shveta is the sixth of the ring-shaped continents, whose shores are surrounded by a sea of milk.
Pushkara is the seventh of the ring-shaped continents, surrounded by a huge circular sea of freshwater.
Bordering the outermost sea is a land named Lokāloka, which separates the known world from the world of darkness. This realm comprises a range of mountains ten thousand
yojanas high. The shell of the cosmic egg known as Brahmanda lies beyond this darkness, cradling all of creation.
O brahmins, there are seven continents viz—Jambū, Plakṣa, Śālmala, Kuśa, Krauñca, Śāka and Puṣkara. These are encircled by seven oceans, the briny ocean, sea of the sugarcane juice, wine, ghee, curds, milk and sweet water.
The Jambūdvīpa is situated in the middle. In its centre, O leading brahmins, is the Meru the mountain of gold.
"The "planets" are called dvīpas.
Outer space is like an ocean of air.
Just as there are islands in the watery ocean,
these planets in the ocean of space are called dvīpas, or islands in outer space"
— Chaitanya Caritamrita Madhya 20.218, Purport