Cosmography according to the Vayu

mountains

east of Arun.a uda

south of Manasa uda

west of Sita uda

north of Maha-bhadra uda

#

1:36:18-20

1:36:22-25

1:36:27-29

1:36:31-32

1

S`ita-anta

Tri-s`ikhara

Su-vaks.as

S`anku-kut.a

2

Ku-mun~ja

S`is`ira

S`ikhi-s`aila

Maha-s`aila

3

"excellent" Su-vira

Kalinga

Kala

Vr.s.bha (again !)

4

Vi-kanka

Patan-ga

Vaidurya

Hamsa

5

Man.i-s`ila

Rucaka (again !)

Kapila

Naga

6

Vr.s.bha "best"

Sanu-mant

Pingala

Kapila

7

Maha-nila

Tamra-abha

Rudra

Indra-s`aila

8

Rucaka

Vi-s`akha

Su-rasa

Sanu-mant

9

Sa-bindu Mandara

S`veta-udara

Mahacala

Nila

10

Ven.u-mant

Sa-mula

Kumuda

Kanaka-s`r.nga

11

Su-medha

Vis.a-dhara

Madhuman

S`ata-s`r.nga

12

Nis.adha

Ratna-dhara

An~jani-mukut.a

Pus.paka

13

Deva-s`aila

Eka-s`r.nga

Kr.s.n.a

Megha-s`aila

14

 

Maha-mula

Pan.d.ara

"excellent" Viraja

15

 

Gaja-s`aila

Sahasra-s`khara

"leading" Ja-rudhi

16

 

Pis`acaka

Pari-yatra

 

17

 

Pan~ca-s`aila

Tri-s`r.nga

 

18

 

Kailasa

   

19

 

"excellent" Hima-vat

   

valleys

1:

betw. range

& range

y.-s

by y.-s

moisture, etc.

deity there

vegetation

:37:1-15

S`ita-anta

Kumun~ja

300

100

S`ri-saras lake, containing waterlily

Laks.mi in waterlily

"S`ri-vana" Bilva forest

:37:16-21

Vi-kanka

Man.i-s`aila

100

200

 

Kas`yapa Praja-pati

Campaka forest

:37:22-25

Maha-nila

Kumun~ja

50

100

Sukha river

bhadra-elephant Aira-vata

Kumuda & An~jana forest

:37:26-27

Ven.u-mant

Su-medha

100

1,000

   

Durva prairie

:37:28-29

Nis.adha

Deva

100

1,000

ankle-deep water

   

:38:2-7

S`is`ira

Patan-ga

circle:

diam. 100

 

Kardama Praja-pati

Udumbara forest

:38:8-17

Tamra-varn.a

Patan-ga

30

100

"highly sacred lake", 100 * 200 y.-s, containing [isle-] country

Puloman

city of Vidya-dhara-s

:38:18-22

Vi-s`akha

Patan-ga

   

Tamra-varn.a lake

Kama of 5 arrows

mango grove

:38:22-26

Su-mula

Vasu-dhara

30

50

soil is wet & damp

 

Bilva-sthali

:38:27-32

Vasu-dhara

Ratna-dhara

30

100

 

Surya Praja-pati

Kims`uka

:38:33-34

Pan~ca-kut.a

Kailasa

36

100

"an impassible land ... as white as a swan"

   

:38:37-41

Su-vaks.a

S`ikhi-s`aila

30

30

"horripilation ... terrible even to gods" 100 y.-s square, containing central zone

Sam-vartaka (as "Fire-god")

 

:38:42-44

"great" mtn.

"great" mtn.

10

 

Deva-vapi lake

Br.has-pati

"Matu-linga"

:38:45-48

Kumuda

An~jana

   

Kesara valley

Vis.n.u

Bakula trees

:38:49-59

Kr.s.n.a

Pan.d.ura

30

90

nyagrodha tree

An-anta

grove of land-lotuses

:38:60-62

Sahasra-s`ikhara

Kumuda

30

50

a peak, an arrow's range high

S`ukra

elephant-fruits

:38:63-65

S`anku-kut.a

Vr.s.bha

       

parus.a fruits

:38:66-70

Kapin~-jala

Naga

100

200

 

ura-ga-s

grapes, pomegranates, aks.ot.aka (walnuts), gingelly

:38:71-78

Pus.paka

Maha-megha

60

100

caves; lakes with hot water

Praja-pati

 

mountains

1:39:

mountain

abodes

kings

:2-27

S`ita-anta

great Pari-jata forest

Maha-indra

:28-29

Kumun~ja

8 cities of Danava-s

 

:30-31

Vajraka

Nilaka-s

 

:32-33

Maha-nila

15 cities of the horse-faced Kinnara-s

Deva-sena

:34

 

"people of different races"

 

:35

 

ura-ga-s

 

:36

Su-naga

1000s of abodes of Daitya-s

 

:37-38

Ven.u-manta

3 cities of Vidya-dhara-s, 50 * 30 y.-s

Uluka, Romas`a, Maha-netra

:39-41

Vai-kanka

Garud.a-s

Su-griva

:42-43

Karan~ja

Bhuta-s & Pramantha-s

S`iva

:44

Vasu-dhara

8 abodes of 8 Vasu-s

 

:45

Ratna-dhatu

7 hermitages of 7 r.s.i-s (sages)

 

:46

Hema-s`r.nga

 

Praja-pati the 4-faced

:47

Gaja-s`aila

Bhuta-s

Rudra

:48-50

Su-megha

 

As`vinau

:51

Hema-kaks.a

As`itya (city of Gandharva-s)

:52 Kapin~-jala (?)

:52

{?}

a-pattana-s ("cityless") Siddha-s

 

:53

Anala

Raks.asa-s

 
 

Pan~ca-kut.a

Danava-s

 

:54

S`ata-s`r.nga

100 cities of Yaks.a-s

 
 

Tamra-nabha

 

Taks.aka son of +Kadru

:55

Vi-s`akha

cave

Guha

:56

S`veta-udara

 

Su-nabha son of Garud.a

:57

Pis`acaka

Yaks.a-s

Kubera

:58

Hari-kut.a

 

Hari

:59

Kumuda

Kinnara-s

 
 

An~jana

Naga-s

 
 

Kr.s.n.a

Gandharva-s

 

:60

Pan.d.ura

Vidya-dhara-s

 

:61

Sahasra-s`ikhara

1,000 cities of Daitya-s wearing gold necklaces

 

:62

Mukut.a

Pannaga-s

 
 

Pus.paka

r.s.i-s (sages)

 

:63

Su-paks.a

 

Vaivas-vata (Yama), Soma, Vayu

mountain Deva-kut.a of Su-parn.a (Garud.a) son of +Vinata

1:40:

locale

name

denizens

y.-s

* y.-s

:4

   

king of birds residing in S`almali dvipa

   

:5-7

7 southern peaks

 

7 cities of Gandha-rva-s

30

40

:8

   

Agneya Gandha-rva-s

   

:9-10

northern peaks of mt. Bhuvana

 

teeming with serpents

   

:11

   

city of Saimhikeya-s

circumference:

30

:12-15

 

Su-nasa

city of Kalakeya-s

60

100

:16-17

   

city of Autkaca Raks.asa-s

20

62

:18-26

 

Bhuta-vat.a

city of Bhuta-s

circle:

diam. 10

8 treasure-cities of Kubera (same as in MP, likewise omitting Kharva) 1:41:10-11

Padma, Maha-padma, Makara, Kacchapa, Kumuda, S`ankha, Nila, Nandana

divine rivers, flowing through (under) a series of mountains

1:42:

name

breadth, in y.-s

lake (uda) as source

series of mountains

:2-11

caelestial Ganga

(:8) 84

(:2) the moon (Soma)

it entereth (:9) Meru, river emerging thence quadripartite (:10-11)

:12-24

Sita (:17)

 

Arun.a

S`ita-anta, Sukun~ja, Su-man~jasa, Malya-vant, Vaikanka, Man.i-parvata, R.s.abha, Jat.hara, Deva-kut.a

:25-40

Alaka-nanda (:27)

(:36) 1

Manasa

Tri-s`ikhara, Tri-kut.a, Kalinga, Rucaka, Nis.adha, Tamra-abha, S`veta-udara, Su-mula, Vasu-dhara, Hema-kut.a, Deva-s`r.nga, Maha-s`aila, Pis`acaka, Kailasa, Hima-vat

:42-57

   

Sita

Su-paks.a, S`ikhi, Kanka, Vaidurya, Kapila, Gandha-madana, Pin~jara, Sarasa, Kumuda-acala, Madhu-mant, Jana, Mukut.a, kr.s.n.a, S`veta, 1,000-peaked S`aila-indra

:58-77

Bhadra-soma

 

Maha-bhadra

S`ankha-kut.a, Vr.s.a-parvata, Vatsa-giri, Naga-s`aila, Nila (vars.a mtn.), Kapin~-jala, Indra-nila, Maha-nila, Hema-s`r.nga, S`veta, Su-naga, S`ata, s`r.nga, Pus.kara, Dvi-raja the "su-maha-bala", Varaha-parvata, Maura, Eka-s`ikhara, Jarudhi, Tri-s`r.nga, Vi-ruddha, Su-pars`va

boulders [-- people live there 10,000 years (:4, :9)] 1:43:

nigh

boulder, 34,000 y.-s long * 32,000 wide east-to-west

complexion of inhabitants

fruit-tree

:1 Gandha-madana

:2 Ketu-mala

black

:4 Panasa (jackfruit)

:5 Malya-vat

:6 Bhadra-as`va

:7 fair

:6 Kala-amra (black mango)

in Bhadra-as`va -- 5 mountains which surround Deva-kut.a 1:43:14

S`aivala, Varn.a-mala-agra, Koran~ja, S`veta-varn.a, Nila

in Bhadra-as`va 1:43:

:19-23 peoples

 

:25-31 rivers

 

Su-mangala-s

 

Hamsa-vasati

 

S`uddha-s

 

Maha-cakra

 

Candra-kam-ta-s

 

Cakra

 

Vrajaka-s

 

Vaktra

 

Nila-s`aileya-s

 

Kan~ci

 

Sau-vira-s

 

Su-rasa

 

Vijaya-sthala-s

 

S`akha-vati

 

Maha-sthala-s

 

Indra-nadi

 

Su-kama-s

 

Megha

 

Maha-kes`a-s

 

Mangara-vahini

 

Su-murdha-ja-s

 

Kaveri

 

Vataramha-s

 

Hari-toya

 

Sopasanga-s

 

Soma-avarta

 

Pari-vaya-s

 

S`ata-hrada

 

Paracaka-s

 

Vana-mala

 

Sambhavaktra-s

 

Vasu-mati

 

Maha-netra-s

 

Pampa

 

S`aivala-s

 

Pampa-vati

 

Stanapa-s

 

Su-varn.a

 

Kumuda-s

 

Pan~ca-varn.a

 

S`aka-mun.d.a-s

 

Vapus.-mati the holy

 

Urah.-sankirn.a-s

 

Man.i-vapra

 

Bhaumaka-s

 

Su-vapra

 

Sodaka-s

 

Brahma-bhaga

 

Vatsaka-s

 

S`ila-as`ini

 

Varaha-s

 

Kr.s.n.a-toya

 

Hara-vamaka-s

 

Pun.ya-uda

 

S`ankha-s

 

Naga-padi the auspicious

 

Bhavi-sandra-s

 

S`aiva-alini

 

Uttara-s

 

Man.i-tat.a

 

Haima-bhaumaka-s

 

Ks.ara-uda

 

Kr.s.n.a-bhauma-s

 

Arun.a-vati

 

Su-bhauma-s

 

Vis.n.u-padi

 

Maha-bhauma-s

 

Maha-pun.ya

 
   

Maha-nadi

 
   

Hiran.ya-vahini

 
   

Nila

 
   

Skanda-mala

 
   

Sura-vati

 
   

Vama-uda

 
   

Pataka

 
   

Vetali

 
   

Maha-nadi Ganga

 

in Ketu-mala -- the 7 mountain-ranges of which surround mtn. Nis.adha 1:44:4

Vis`ala, Kambala, Kr.s.n.a, Jayanta, Hari-parvata, A-s`oka, Vardha-mana

in Ketu-mala 1:44:

:9-15 nationalities

 

:17-23 rivers

 

Go-manus.ya

 

Kambala

 

Kopataka

 

Tamasi

 

Tad-sukhas

 

S`yama

 

Bhramara

 

Su-medha

 

Yutha

 

Bakula

 

Maheya

 

Vikirn.a

 

Acala-kut.aka

 

S`ikhi-mala

 

Su-maula

 

Darbha-vati

 

Stavaka

 

Bhadra

 

Kraun~ca

 

S`uka-nadi

 

Kr.s.n.a-anga

 

Palas`a

 

Man.i-pun~jaka

 

Bhima

 

Kut.a-kambala

 

Prabhan~-jana

 

Maus.iya

 

Kan~ci

 

Samudra-antaraka

 

Kus`a-vati

 

Karambhava

 

Pun.ya-uda

 

Kuca

 

Candra-vati

 

S`veta

 

Su-mula

 

Suvarn.a-kat.aka

 

R.s.abha

 

S`ubha

 

Samudra-mala

 

S`veta-anga

 

Campa-vati

 

Kr.s.n.a-pada

 

Eka-aks.a

 

Viha

 

Pus.kala

 

Kapila-karn.ika

 

Vaha

 

Atyakarala

 

Su-varn.a

 

Go-jvala

 

Nandini

 

Hinana

 

Kalindi

 

Vana-pataka

 

Bharati

 

Mahis.a

 

Sita-uda

 

Kumuda-abha

 

Patika

 

Karavat.a

 

Brahmi

 

Saha-utkaca

 

Vis`ala

 

S`uka-nasas

 

Pivari

 

Maha-nasa

 

Kumbha-kari

 

Vanasa

 

Rus.a

 

Gaja-bhumika

 

Mahis.i

 

Karan~ja

 

Manusi

 

Man~jama

 

Dan.d.a

 

Vaha

     

Kis.kindi

     

Pan.d.u-bhumika

     

Kubera

     

Dhuma-ja

     

Janga

     

Vanga

     

Rajiva

     

Kokila

     

Vaca-anga

     

Maha-anga

     

Madha-oreya

     

Su-recaka

     

Pittala

     

Kacala

     

S`ravan.a

     

Matta-kas`ika

     

Godava

     

Bakula

     

Vanga

     

Vangaka

     

Modaka

     

Kala

     

Jambu dvipa, south-to-north: northern vars.a-s 1:45:

mountain

vars.a (district)

tree

the people: & their life-span of people, in yrs.

:2 Nila

     
 

Raman.aka

:4 nyagrodha (Indian fig) called Rohin.a

:5 "excellent": 11,500

:6 S`r.nga-vant, which hath (:10) 3 peaks: the 1st of diamonds, the 2nd of gold, the 3rd of pretious stones

     
 

:6 Hiran.yata, where river Hairan.yati floweth

 

:8 "of unlimited splendour" {a Bauddha heaven}: 12,500

:21 Ja-rudhi the king of mtns.

     
 

:27 land "flowing with milk, honey, butter and the intoxicant beverage Maireya"

:31 Tamala, Aguru & sandalwood

 

:43 Candra-kam-ta

   

dark

Surya-kam-ta

   

"dark as well as fair"

:54 Kumuda-prabha: in center of sq

:51-53 Candra-dvipa, shaped like the moon: 1,000 y.-s sq

:55 "lilies of diverse colours"

:59 "the people here shine like the moon": (:60) 1,000

 

:61-62 in ocean 4,000 from land: circular isle 10,000 in diam.

 

:65 golden complexion: (:66) 500

:47 "They do not procreate .... Pairs are born of the tree unlike each other but befitting each other." {like Masya & +Masyanoi, in the Zarathustrian myth}

:48: "The riches are common to all. They do not have the sense of possession. There is ... no virtue, no vice {cf. Dao De Jing} ... no old age ... . On completing their full length of time, they disappear like bubbles of water."

:50 "...they do not observe (the restrictions of) Dharma. For Dharma grows from misery."

upa-vars.a-s of Bharata [:80-81 1,000 * 9,000 y.-s] 1:45:79

Indra-dvipa, Kaseru, Tamra-varn.a, Gabhasti-mant, Naga-dvipa, Saumya, Gandharva, Varun.a

Jambu dvipa, south-to-north: central vars.a-s 1:46:

mountain

vars.a (district)

tree

the people: & their life-span of people, in yrs.

 

:4 Kim-purus.a

Plaks.a grove; (:7) fig-tree

:5 golden-complexioned: 10,000

 

:8 Hari-vars.a

:9 sugarcane

:8 yellow in complexion: (:10) 11,000

 

:11 Ila-vr.ta, (:15-16) 26,000 * 9,000 y.-s, shaped "like a saucer"

:13 an Jambu fruit-tree, (:24-26) "called Su-dars`ana" 100,000 y.-s tall; the length of the fruit is 861 aratni-s

where (:12) "the moon, the sun and the stars are dim" [in comparison with the luminosity of the people ?]

:17 Gandha-madana 34,000 y.-s long, (:18) 40,000 y.-s tall: (:17) 9,000 y.-s to the west of Meru

     

:19 Malya-vant to the east of Meru

     

:33 Hima-vat

   

Raks.asa-s, Pis`aca-s, Yaks.a-s

Hema-kut.a

   

Gandharva-s & Ap-saras-es

:34 Nis.adha

   

Naga-s

Meru

   

the 33 groups of Yajn~ika-s

Nila, full of lapis lazuli

   

Siddha-s, Brahma-rs.i-s

:35 S`veta

   

Daitya-s, Danava-s

S`r.nga-vant

   

Pitr.-s

Kailasa, environs of

1:47:

direction

nigh mountain

is mountain

lake

river

forest

deity

deity's retinue

:1-3

 

Hima-vat

Kailasa

Manda

Mandakini

Nandana

   

:4-7

north-east

Su-varn.a

Candra-prabha

Acchoda

Acchoda

Caitra-ratha

Man.i-bhadra

Yaks.a-s

:9-12

south-east

Pis`anga

Lohita

Lohita

Lauhitya [= Brahma-putra]

Vi-s`oka

Man.i-vara Yaks.a

Guhyaka-s

:13-16

south

An~jana

Vaidyuta

Manasa

Sarayu

Vai-bhraja

Brahma-pata son of Prahetr. the Raks.asa

Yatu-dhana-s

:17-22

west

Mun~ja-vat

Arun.a

S`aila-uda

S`aila-uda

Surabhi

Dhumra-Lohita

 

:22-40

north

Soma

Gaura of yellow orpiment

Bindu-saras

Bhagi-rathi

 

Bhagi-ratha

 

:60-62

   

Hari-s`r.nga

 

Vasvokasa

 

Kauberaka

Yajn~a-upeta, Su-mahant, A-mita-ojas, Su-vikrama

:63-64

   

Hema-kut.a

Sayana

Manas-vini & Jyotis.-mati

     

:64-65

   

Nis.adha

Vis.n.u-pada

Gandharvi & Nanvali

     

:66-67

   

Nila

Payoda

Pun.d.arika & Payoda

     

:67-68

   

S`veta

Uttara-manasa

Jyotsna & Mr.ga-kam-ta

     

:70-71

     

12 Rudra-ajaya-s

S`anta & Madhvi

     

:75 "The twelve mountains entered the ocean because they feared Mahendra who would have cut off their wings."

Vidyut-vant, a continent 3,000 * 1,000 yojana-s in extent, separated from Bharata by an ocean 10,000 y.-s wide1:48:

:8

its inhabitants "are black"

so are Australian aborigines

:9

"They eat fruits and live like monkeys [i.e., without agriculture].

so do Australian aborigines

 

Like cattle, they follow promiscuous, unconcealed sexual habits."

so do Australian aborigines on occasion of their religious festivals (Kunapipi & C^angawul)

Peacock islands (:11) in sea betwixt: Bharata & the continent Vidyut-vant 1:48:

name

mountain

mines of __

abode of __

shrine

:15 Anga

:17 Cakra-giri

     

:19 Yama-dvipa

Dyuti-mant

gold

   

:20 Malaya dvipa

:22 [Maha-]Malaya

silver

Agastya

 
 

:24 Kan~cana-pada

     
 

:26 Tri-kut.a, with city Lanka, (:28) 100 * 30 y.-s

 

:29 Raks.asa-s

 
       

:30 Go-karn.a, shrine of S`ankara

:31 S`ankha-dvipa

:32 S`ankha-giri

S`ankha-naga

S`ankha-mukha king of Naga-s

:35 +Kumuda, sister of Maha-deva

:36 Varaha

Varaha

:39 Varahi

:37 "densely populated"

:40 Varaha (Boar)

Plaks.a dvipa

1:49:

#

mountain

characterization of mountain

:6

1st

Go-medaka

"resembling a cloud"

:7

2nd

Candra

full of medicinal herbs which were planted by the As`vini Kumara-s

:8

3rd

Narada

whereat sages Narada & Parvata were born

:9

4th

Dundubhi

whereat a drum was beaten, the sound of which killed living beings

:10

5th

Somaka

whence a-mr.ta was taken away by Garud.a for his mother

:11

6th

Su-manas = R.s.abha

whereat Hiran.ya-aks.a was killed by Varaha

:12

7th

Vai-bhraja

glittering

:20 "Among them there is no (influence of) Utsarpin.i (evolutionary) and Avasarpin.i (involutionary) eras." [This Puran.a useth Jaina terms for time-cycles ...]

S`almala dvipa

1:49:

#

mountain

characterization of mountain

:31

1st

Kumuda

"refulgent as the sun"

:32

2nd

Unnata

"full of yellow orpiment"

:33

3rd

Bala-ahaka

"With its peaks of collyrium"

:34

4th

Dron.a

"where the strong medicinal herbs Vis`alyakaran.i (remover of darts or splinters) and Mr.tasan~jivani (that which re-suscitates the dead) are found."

:35

5th

Kanka

of excessive height; endowed with divine flowers and fruits

:36

6th

Mahis.a

"A fire, born of water and known as Mahis.a, exists there."

:37

7th

Kakudman

showering gems in Prajapatya rite

S`aka dvipa

1:49:

#

mountain

characterization of mountain

:77

1st

Ud-aya

"golden ... abode of divine sages"

:78-79

2nd

Jala-dhara

"There is the rainy season"

:80

3rd

Raivatakas

mountain "raised by the god Brahma. It is here that the Star Revati is always [in each Manu-antara ?] established in the heavens."

:81

4th

S`yama

"due to it ... people got dark complexion from the outset [of kalpa ?]"

:82

5th

Asta-giri

"full of silver"

 

6th

Ambikeya

 

:83

7th

Ramya = Kesarin

"where all medicinal herbs grow"

:102 "No tax is raised. no punishment is metedd out. There none to punish. They know of virtue by natural righteousness. They protect one another."

Pus.kara dvipa, divided north-to-south in regard to mountain ranges

1:49:

1/2 continent

mountain-range

girth, in y.-s

stature, in y.-s

vars.a

:105-107

eastern

Maha-s`ila

25,000

34,000

 

:107-109

western

Manasa

25,000

50,000

 

:112

exterior

     

Maha-vita

 

interior

     

Dhataki

:115 "None defrauds any; none is jealous. ... nor illegal acceptance of gifts [bribery]."

ANCIENT INDIAN TRADITION AND MYTHOLOGY, Vol. 37. The Vayu Puran.a, Part 1: Purva-ardha, translated by G. V. Tagare, Motilal Banarsidass, 1987

MP = Matsya Puran.a-m