Ajay Kumar at 17:59, 5 September 2023

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{{Short description|Sanskrit endonym of the Indian subcontinent}}
{{about|philosophical region in Indians religions|other uses|Jambudvipa (disambiguation)}}
{{use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
{{Original research|date=February 2011}}
[[File:Jambudiipasi.jpg|thumb|The [[Prakrit]] name ''Jambudīpasi'' (Sanskrit "Jambudvīpa") for "India" in the [[Sahasram]] [[Minor Rock Edict]] of [[Ashoka]], circa 250 BCE ([[Brahmi script]]).<ref name=Hultzsch>{{cite book |title=Inscriptions of Asoka. New Edition by E. Hultzsch |date=1925 |pages=169–171 |url=https://archive.org/stream/InscriptionsOfAsoka.NewEditionByE.Hultzsch/HultzschCorpusAsokaSearchable#page/n345 |language=sa}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Lahiri |first1=Nayanjot |title=Ashoka in Ancient India |date=2015 |publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=9780674057777 |page=37 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bJ_XCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA37 |language=en}}</ref>]]
'''Jambudvīpa''' ({{lang-sa| जम्बुद्वीप}}; [[Pali]]: Jambudīpa) is a name often used to describe the territory of [[Greater India]] in [[History of India|Ancient Indian sources]].
The term is based on the concept of ''[[dvīpa]]'', meaning "island" or "continent" in Ancient Indian cosmogony. The term ''Jambudvipa'' was used by [[Ashoka]] to represent his realm in the third century BCE. The same terminology was used in subsequent texts, for instance [[Kannada inscriptions]] from the tenth century CE which also described the region, presumably [[Outline of Ancient India|Ancient India]], as ''Jambudvipa''.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.107941|title=Annual Report Of Mysore 1886 To 1903}}</ref>

The word Jambudvīpa literally refers to "the land of Jambu trees" where jambu (''[[Syzygium cumini]]'') grows. According to some noted anthropologists, the [[Indo-Aryan peoples|Indo-Aryan]] inhabitants of the modern day countries of [[India]], [[Pakistan]], [[Bangladesh]], [[Sri Lanka]], [[Maldives]], and [[Nepal]] are considered to be part of the Jambudvīpan race.

==Puranic description ==
[[File:Map of Jambudvipa Indian Hindu Cosmology.jpg|thumb|Map of Jambudvipa]]
According to [[Puranic]] cosmography, the world is divided into seven concentric island continents (''sapta-dvipa vasumati'') separated by the seven encircling oceans, each double the size of the preceding one (going out from within). The seven continents of the [[Puranas]] are stated as '''Jambudvipa''', [[Plaksadvipa]], [[Salmalidvipa]], [[Kusadvipa]], [[Krouncadvipa]], [[Shakdvipa|Sakadvipa]], and [[Pushkaradvipa]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paradise Found: Appendix: Section IV. The Earth and World of the Hindus |url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/earth/pf/pf40.htm |access-date=2022-04-14 |website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref><ref>Mahabharata 6.604</ref> Seven intermediate oceans consist of salt-water, sugarcane juice, wine, [[ghee]], [[Dahi (curd)|yogurt]], milk and water respectively.<ref>[[Agni Purana]] 108.1-2.</ref><ref>[[Matsya Purana]] 121-122.</ref> The mountain range called [[Lokaloka]], meaning "world-no-world", stretches across this final sea, delineating the known world from the dark void.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AEQovil-HSoC&q=%22lokaloka%22+hindu&pg=PA25|title=Hindu Myths|last=Dallapiccola|first=A. L.|date=November 2003|publisher=University of Texas Press|isbn=9780292702332|language=en}}</ref>

Continent Jambudvipa (''[[Rose Tree]] Island''), also known as ''Sudarshanadvipa'', forms the innermost concentric island in the above scheme. There is a belief that this island named after the people who lived in this island known as [[Paraiyar|Sambavas]]. Its name is said to derive from a Jambu tree (another name for the [[Jambul|Indian Blackberry]]). The fruits of the Jambu tree are said, in the [[Vishnu Purana|Viṣṇupurāṇa]] (ch.2) to be as large as elephants and when they become rotten and fall upon the crest of the mountains, a river of juice is formed from their expressed juice. The river so formed is called Jambunadi (Jambu river) and flows through Jambudvipa, whose inhabitants drink its waters. Insular continent Jambudvipa is said to comprise nine ''varshas'' (zones) and eight significant ''parvatas'' (mountains).

[[Markandeya Purana]] portrays Jambudvipa as being depressed on its south and north and elevated and broad in the middle. The elevated region forms the varsha named ''Ila-vrta'' or ''Meruvarsha''. At the center of Ila-vrta lies the golden [[Mount Meru (mythology)|Mount Meru]], the king of mountains. On the summit of Mount Meru, is the vast city of [[Brahma]], known as ''Brahmapuri''. Surrounding Brahmapuri are 8 cities - the one of [[Indra]] and of seven other ''[[Deva (Hinduism)|Devatas]]''.

Markandeya Purana and [[Brahmanda Purana]] divide Jambudvipa into four vast regions shaped like four petals of a [[Indian lotus|lotus]] with Mount Meru being located at the center like a [[pericarp]]. The city of ''Brahmapuri'' is said to be enclosed by a river, known as ''Akasha Ganga''. ''Akasha Ganga'' is said to issue forth from the foot of [[Vishnu]] and after washing the lunar region falls "through the skies" and after encircling the Brahmapuri "splits up into four mighty streams", which are said to flow in four opposite directions from the landscape of Mount Meru and irrigate the vast lands of Jambudvipa.<ref>Geographical Data in the Early Puranas. A Critical Study, Dr M. R. Singh: University of Rajasthan/Jaipur. Punthi Pustak, Calcutta. 1972. p. 5</ref>

The common names of the dvīpas, having their varṣas (9 for Jambu-dvīpa, 7 for the other dvīpas) with a mountain and a river in each varṣa, is given in several Purāṇas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://texts.00.gs/cosmography,_Astika.htm|title=Astika cosmography|website=texts.00.gs}}</ref> There is a distinct set of names provides, however, in other Purāṇas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://texts.00.gs/cosmography,_Astika_alternative.htm|title=alternative names in Astika cosmography|website=texts.00.gs}}</ref> The most detailed geography is that described in the ''[[Vayu Purana|Vāyu Purāṇa]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://texts.00.gs/cosmography,_Vayu.htm|title=cosmography of the Vayu Purana|website=texts.00.gs}}</ref>

==In Buddhism==
The [[Buddhist cosmology]] divides the {{IAST|bhūmaṇḍala}} (circle of the earth) into three separate levels: '''[[Buddhist cosmology#Desire Realm (Kāmadhātu)|Kāmadhātu]]''' (Desire realm), '''[[Buddhist cosmology#Form Realm (Rūpadhātu)|Rūpadhātu]]''' (Form realm), and '''[[Buddhist cosmology#Formless Realm (Ārūpyadhātu)|Ārūpyadhātu]]''' (Formless realm). In the Kāmadhātu is located Mount [[Sumeru]] which is said to be surrounded by four island-continents. "The southernmost island is called Jambudvīpa". The other three continents of Buddhist accounts around Sumeru are not accessible to humans from Jambudvīpa. Jambudvīpa is shaped like a triangle with a blunted point facing south, somewhat like the Indian subcontinent. In its center is a gigantic [[Syzygium cumini|Jambu]] tree from which the continent takes its name, meaning "Jambu Island".

Jambudipa, one of the four Mahādīpas, or great continents, which are included in the Cakkavāla and are ruled by a Cakkavatti. They are grouped round Mount Sumeru. In Jambudīpa is Himavā with its eighty-four thousand peaks, its lakes, mountain ranges, etc.

This continent derives its name from the Jambu-tree (also called Naga) which grows there, its trunk fifteen yojanas in girth, its outspreading branches fifty yojanas in length, its shade one hundred yojanas in extent and its height one hundred yojanas (Vin.i.30; SNA.ii.443; Vsm.i.205f; Sp.i.119, etc.) On account of this tree, Jambudīpa is also known as Jambusanda (SN.vs.552; SNA.i.121). The continent is ten thousand yojanas in extent; of these ten thousand, four thousand are covered by the ocean, three thousand by the Himālaya mountains, while three thousand are inhabited by men (SNA.ii.437; UdA.300).

Jambudvīpa is the region where the humans live and is the only place where a being may become enlightened by being born as a human being. It is in Jambudvīpa that one may receive the gift of [[Dharma (Buddhism)|Dharma]] and come to understand the [[Four Noble Truths]], the [[Noble Eightfold Path]] and ultimately realize the liberation from the [[Samsara (Buddhism)|cycle of life and death]]. Another reference is from the Buddhist text [[Mahavamsa]], where the emperor [[Ashoka]]'s son [[Mahinda (buddhist monk)|Mahinda]] introduces himself to the [[Sri Lanka]]n king [[Devanampiyatissa]] as from Jambudvipa, referring to what is now the Indian subcontinent. This is Based In the [[Kṣitigarbha Sūtra]] in the [[Mahayana]].

== In Jainism==
{{main article|Jain cosmology}}
[[File:Jambudvipa.JPG|thumb|right|275px| Image depicting map of Jambudvipa as per Jain Cosmology]]
According to [[Jain cosmology]], Jambūdvīpa is at the centre of Madhyaloka, or the middle part of the universe, where the humans reside. ''Jambūdvīpaprajñapti'' or the treatise on the island of Roseapple tree contains a description of Jambūdvīpa and life biographies of {{IAST|Ṛṣabha}} and King Bharata. ''Trilokasāra'' (Essence of the three worlds), ''Trilokaprajñapti'' (Treatise on the three worlds), ''Trilokadipikā'' (Illumination of the three worlds) and {{IAST|''Kṣetrasamāsa''}} (Summary of Jain geography) are the other texts that provide the details of Jambūdvīpa and Jain cosmology.
Madhyaloka consists of many continent-islands surrounded by oceans, first eight whose names are:
:::{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background-color:#FFFF00;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold" valign="top"
| width="141" Height="15.75" | Continent/ Island
| width="165" | Ocean
|- style="font-style:Italic" valign="top"
|style="font-style:Italic" Height="12.75" | Jambūdvīpa
| Lavanoda (Salt - ocean)
|- style="font-style:Italic" valign="top"
|style="font-style:Italic" Height="12.75" | Dhatki Khand
| Kaloda (Black sea)
|- style="font-style:Italic" valign="top"
|style="font-style:Italic" Height="12.75" | Puskarvardvīpa
| Puskaroda (Lotus Ocean)
|- style="font-style:Italic" valign="top"
|style="font-style:Italic" Height="12.75" | Varunvardvīpa
| Varunoda (Varun Ocean)
|- style="font-style:Italic" valign="top"
|style="font-style:Italic" Height="12.75" | Kshirvardvīpa
| Kshiroda (Ocean of milk)
|- style="font-style:Italic" valign="top"
|style="font-style:Italic" Height="12.75" | Ghrutvardvīpa
| Ghrutoda (Ghee ocean)
|- style="font-style:Italic" valign="top"
|style="font-style:Italic" Height="12.75" | Ikshuvardvīpa
| Iksuvaroda (Ocean of Sugarcane Juice)
|- style="font-style:Italic" valign="top"
|style="font-style:Italic" Height="12.75" | Nandishwardvīpa
|style="font-style:Italic" | Nandishwaroda
|}

Mount Meru is at the centre of the world surrounded by Jambūdvīpa, in form of a circle forming a diameter of 100,000 yojanas.<ref>Schubring, Walther (1995)Pp. 204-246</ref>

Jambūdvīpa continent has 6 mountains, dividing the continent into 9 zones (Kshetra). The names of these zones are:
#Bharat Kshetra
#Mahavideha Kshetra
#Airavat Kshetra
#Ramyakwas
#Hariwas
#Hairanyvat Kshetra
#Haimavat Kshetra
#Devkuru
#Uttarkuru

===Architecture===
[[Jambudweep]] Jain tirtha in [[Hastinapur]], constructed under supervision of [[Gyanmati Mataji]], is a depiction of ''Jambudvipa'' as per [[Jain cosmology]].

== Jambudvipa in geopolitical sense ==

The term ''Jambudvipa'' is used by Ashoka perhaps to represent his realm in 3rd century BC, same terminology is then repeated in subsequent inscriptions for instance [[Kannada inscriptions|Mysorean inscription]] from the tenth century AD which also describes the region, presumably India, as ''Jambudvipa''.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.107941|title=Annual Report Of Mysore 1886 To 1903}}</ref>
{{Quotation|text=‘ the [[Kuntala country]] (which included the north-western parts of Mysore and the southern parts of the Bombay Presidency) was ruled by the [[Nanda Empire|nava-Nanda]], [[Gupta Empire|Gupta-kula]], [[Maurya Empire|Mauryya kings]] ; then the [[Rashtrakuta dynasty|Rattas]] ruled it : after whom were the [[Chalukya dynasty|Chalukyas]]; then the [[Kalachuris of Kalyani|Kalachuryya family]]; and after them the ([[Hoysala Empire|Hoysala]]) Ballalas.'’ Another, at [[Kaitabheshvara Temple, Kubatur|Kubatur]], expressly states that [[Chandragupta II|Chandra Gupta]] ruled the [[Naga Kingdom|Naga-khanda]] in the south of the Bharata-kshetra of Jambu dvipa : this is the Nagara-khanda Seventy of so many inscriptions, of which Bandanikke ([[Western Chalukya temples|Bandalike]] in Shimoga) seems to have been the chief town. And further, a record to be noticed below says that the daughters of the [[Kadamba dynasty|Kadamba king]] were given in marriage to the Guptas.|sign=|source=Annual Report Of Mysore 1886 To 1903}}

==See also==
*[[Names for India]]
*[[Shakdvipa|Shakadvipa]]
*[[Uttarakuru]]
*[[Karshvar]], equivalent continents in the [[Avesta]]

== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.metta.lk/pali-utils/Pali-Proper-Names/jambudiipa.htm The Jambudvipa of Buddhist texts] (metta.lk)

[[Category:Toponyms for India]]
[[Category:Jain cosmology]]
[[Category:Locations in Hindu mythology]]
[[Category:Buddhist cosmology]]
[[Category:Esoteric cosmology]]

Jambudvīpa - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 17:59, 5 September 2023