By Swami Harshananda
Dvīpa literally means ‘island’.
According to the ancient geography as depicted in some purāṇas like the Viṣṇupurāna[1] this world (or earth) comprises seven dvīpas or continents. Each dvīpa is surrounded by an ocean. Bhāratavarṣa (India) is the first continent known as Jambudvīpa.
References[edit]
- ↑ Viṣṇupurāna 2.2
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore