Dvipa
Seven island continents in Hindu cosmography, each ringed by an ocean.
In Hindu cosmography, a *dvipa* (Sanskrit: द्वीप, meaning "island") refers to one of seven landmasses—either islands or continents—that make up the Earth, each encircled by its own ocean. The same word is also applied to the seven cosmic regions. According to the geocentric model found in Hindu texts, these seven dvipas are positioned around Mount Meru, which lies at the heart of Jambudvipa—the entire innermost continent, not just the Indian subcontinent. Additionally, *dvipa* can denote divine realms, such as Manidvipa, the abode of deities.
The term itself combines the Sanskrit words *dvī* (two) and *apa* (water), literally meaning "having water on two sides." It shares a root with the Young Avestan word *duuaēpa*, which carries the same sense.
The Puranas, including the Matsya and Bhagavata, describe the world as divided into seven dvipas, collectively called *sapta-dvīpa*. The Mahabharata lists these seven islands. British author Benjamin Walker explains that beneath the celestial realms, the Earth is organized into seven concentric rings of island continents. Jambudvipa, the innermost, is shaped like a disc. Various texts describe the Earth as supported by divine beings, but the specific chain 'Shesha → Akupara → Ashtadiggajas → Brahmanda' is not a standard, widely-canonical sequence and appears to be an invented or conflated detail.
The remaining six dvipas, each surrounded by a distinct liquid, are: Plaksha (encircled by a sea of sugarcane juice), Shalmala (by a sea of wine), Kusha (by a sea of clarified butter or ghee), Krauncha (by a sea of curds), Shaka or Shveta (by a sea of milk), and Pushkara (by a vast circular sea of freshwater). Beyond the outermost sea lies Lokāloka, a land of mountains ten thousand yojanas high that separates the known world from darkness. Past this darkness rests the shell of Brahmanda, enclosing all creation.
The Brahma Purana states: "O brahmins, there are seven continents—Jambū, Plakṣa, Śālmala, Kuśa, Krauñca, Śāka, and Puṣkara. Jambūdvīpa is situated in the middle. In its center, O leading brahmins, is the golden mountain Meru." The Bengali text *Chaitanya Charitamrita* (circa 1557) also discusses this concept.
- Field
- Hindu cosmography
- Known for
- Seven concentric island continents (sapta-dvīpa) surrounding Mount Meru
- Etymology
- Portmanteau of Sanskrit dvī (two) and apa (water), meaning 'having water on two sides'
Lore & Background
According to the Matsya Purana and the Bhagavata Purana, the world is divided into seven dvipas, termed sapta-dvīpa (the seven islands). The Mahabharata names these seven islands. The British author Benjamin Walker describes the earth as arranged in seven concentric rings of island continents beneath the celestial regions. Jambudvipa is the innermost, shaped like a disc. Various texts describe the Earth as supported by divine beings, but the specific chain 'Shesha → Akupara → Ashtadiggajas → Brahmanda' is not a standard, widely-canonical sequence and appears to be an invented or conflated detail.
Reader's Guide
The concept of dvipa is central to Hindu cosmography, providing a structured model of the terrestrial world as a series of seven concentric island continents, each surrounded by a distinct ocean. This framework appears in multiple Puranas, including the Matsya Purana, Bhagavata Purana, and Brahma Purana, as well as in the Mahabharata. The innermost continent, Jambudvipa, contains Mount Meru at its center and is identified with the Indian subcontinent. The other dvipas—Plaksha, Shalmala, Kusha, Krauncha, Shaka (or Shveta), and Pushkara—are each encircled by seas of sugarcane juice, wine, clarified butter, curds, milk, and freshwater, respectively. Beyond the outermost sea lies Lokāloka, a mountain range separating the known world from darkness, with the cosmic egg Brahmanda beyond. The term also appears in later texts such as the Chaitanya Charitamrita (c. 1557). The etymology, from dvī (two) and apa (water), meaning 'having water on two sides,' is cognate with Young Avestan 'duuaēpa.'
Did You Know?
- The word dvipa is a portmanteau of Sanskrit dvī (two) and apa (water), meaning 'having water on two sides.'
- The seven dvipas are described as concentric rings, with Jambudvipa as the innermost, shaped like a disc.
- Each dvipa is surrounded by a different ocean: sugarcane juice, wine, clarified butter, curds, milk, or freshwater.
- The outermost sea is bordered by Lokāloka, a mountain range ten thousand yojanas high, separating the known world from darkness.
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