Hare Krishna prabujis I am Ganesh from tirupati. I have read some conversations of srila prabupada about cosmology in bhagavatam 5th canto that jambudvipa is divided into 9 varshas and southern most varshas is bharatha varsha. Northen side is greater Himalayas and South side is vast salt water ocean. In some conversations prabupada said that bharatha varsha is our Earth but in H H Danavir goswami Maharaj Vedic cosmos animated documentary it is shown that bharatha varsha is divided in 9 parts and one such part which is like globe floating in salt water ocean. I am really confused about this but iam a strong believer of srila prabupada and iskcon. The reason why I am asking this is because you are all pure servants of Krishna and prabupada can shed some light about this topic and dumb headed person like me can be able to know truth with help of you prabujis?
If I have offended any one by asking my question please forgive me prabujis.Hare Krishna.
Replies
And... the jambhudwipa is divided into different tracts of land by the mountain ranges. Bharat varsa is one of the tract of land.
https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/5/18/
The predominating ruler of Bhadrāśva-varṣa is Bhadraśravā. He and his many servants always worship the incarnation known as Lord Hayagrīva. At the end of each kalpa, when the demon Ajñāna steals the Vedic knowledge, Lord Hayagrīva appears and preserves it. Then He delivers it to Lord Brahmā. In the land known as Hari-varṣa, the exalted devotee Prahlāda Mahārāja worships Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva.
In the tract of land known as Ketumāla-varṣa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead (Lord Hṛṣīkeśa) appears in the form of Cupid.
In the tract of land known as Ramyaka-varṣa, Manu and all the inhabitants worship Matsyadeva to this very day.
In Hiraṇmaya-varṣa Lord Viṣṇu has assumed the form of a tortoise (Kūrma mūrti) and is worshiped there by Aryamā,
Lord Rāmacandra is being worshiped in the tract of land known as Kimpuruṣa-varṣa. ( https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/5/19/).
Sārvaṇi Manu and the inhabitants of Bhārata-varṣa engage in devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/5/19/
In the planet known as Bhārata-varṣa there are many rivers and mountains, as there are in other tracts of land, yet Bhārata-varṣa has special significance because in this tract of land there exists the Vedic principle of varṇāśrama-dharma, which divides society into four varṇas and four āśramas.
HERE THE WORD PLANET IS GIVEN. for desribing Bharat Varsa.
Sir.. I have only bookish knowledge. I don't know much about really cosmology.
And I am not interested much to know also. All I want to know is to praise the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Becoz you to know all this it is impossible with our limited senses.
All I can is getting amazed by Lord creation. Too Vast topic.
Sorry I cannot be of much help to you.
Thanks Hare Krishna.
What I understood from reading is varsa is tract of land. The term varsa means a division of the earth, or a continent.
उत्तरं यत्समुद्रस्य: हिमाद्रेश्चैव दक्षिणम् ।
वर्षं तद् भारतं नाम: भारती यत्र संततिः ।।
Starting from Himalayas and extending upto the Indian Ocean is the nation built by Gods, Hindusthan.
IT Is a part of Earth planet.
Varsh is typically denoting the season or time during the rule of Maharaj Bharata. Bharat Khanda is correct word becoz it is denoting the part of the bhumi ( earth mass) ruled by king Bharata.
The tract of land below the Himalayas surrounded by the salt ocean.. is Bharat varsa.
Varsa not Varsh.
It is very difficult to explain this ..without a video presentation or a 3D model to show you exactly what is what.
http://www.iskcon-truth.com/bhu-mandala/bhumandala-jambudvipa/meru-...
http://www.iskcon-truth.com/bhu-mandala/bhumandala-jambudvipa/Sapta...
http://www.iskcon-truth.com/bhu-mandala/bhumandala-jambudvipa/Meru-...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0ZGUhsz628
https://soolaba.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/bhu-mandala.jpg
This vid. shows very nice planetary display
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3Nqhf9mnag
http://www.iskcon-truth.com/bhu-mandala/bhumandala-jambudvipa/Jambu...
http://www.iskcon-truth.com/bhu-mandala/jambudvipa-varshas.html
Please go thru the links they are very useful and self explanatory. If you still find difficulty let me know.
Hare Krishna.
Jambudwipa is not bharat varsa. Jambhudwipa is one of the islands among the 7 islands created by Priyavrat Maharaj.... Bhumandala is divides into 7 islands.
let me paste you the exact verses from SB
Canto 5 Chapter 1 SB
Text 30: While so excellently ruling the universe, King Priyavrata once became dissatisfied with the circumambulation of the most powerful sun-god. Encircling Sumeru Hill on his chariot, the sun-god illuminates all the surrounding planetary systems. However, when the sun is on the northern side of the hill, the south receives less light, and when the sun is in the south, the north receives less. King Priyavrata disliked this situation and therefore decided to make daylight in the part of the universe where there was night. He followed the orbit of the sun-god on a brilliant chariot and thus fulfilled his desire. He could perform such wonderful activities because of the power he had achieved by worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Text 31: When Priyavrata drove his chariot behind the sun, the rims of his chariot wheels created impressions that later became seven oceans, dividing the planetary system known as Bhū-maṇḍala into seven islands.
Text 32: The names of the islands are Jambū, Plakṣa, Śālmali, Kuśa, Krauñca, Śāka and Puṣkara. Each island is twice as large as the one preceding it, and each is surrounded by a liquid substance, beyond which is the next island.
These are 7 islands... whole bhumandala is jambhudwipa.
A part of the Jambhudwipa is bharat varsa.
Text 33: The seven oceans respectively contain salt water, sugarcane juice, liquor, clarified butter, milk, emulsified yogurt, and sweet drinking water. All the islands are completely surrounded by these oceans, and each ocean is equal in breadth to the island it surrounds. Mahārāja Priyavrata, the husband of Queen Barhiṣmatī, gave sovereignty over these islands to his respective sons, namely Āgnīdhra, Idhmajihva, Yajñabāhu, Hiraṇyaretā, Ghṛtapṛṣṭha, Medhātithi and Vītihotra. Thus they all became kings by the order of their father.
Each son of Priyavrat maharaj ruled each island. each island was separated from the other by 7 oceans.
Hare Krishna.