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Puranic Traditions

By Narayana Tripathi

Vol. 10 · No. 1March - 1934pp. 121–124English

Summary

Summarising mythological geography, this article describes how Puranic texts divide the southern hemisphere into a series of islands and subterranean regions. Beyond India lie numerous islands formed from the peaks of the Vidyutvan range; these include Angadvipa, Yavadvipa, Malayadvipa, Sankhadvipa, Kumudadvipa and Varahadvipa, which the author tentatively identifies with Borneo, Java, Malaya, Siam/Cambodia and the Philippines. Each island is said to be inhabited by various peoples and to contain mines of precious metals and gems. Malayadvipa is depicted as rich in gold and sandal forests; Sankhadvipa houses the palace of the Naga king Sankha‑Mukha; Kumudadvipa is populated by pious people; and Varahadvipa worships Varaha. The article further outlines the seven divisions of the subterranean Pātāla continent—Atala, Vitala (Sutala), Nitala, Talatala, Mahatala, Śritala (Rasatala) and Pātāla—describing them as lands of Nagas, Asuras and Daityas. Pātāla is portrayed as a realm of pleasure and prosperity, superior even to heaven. By linking myth with real geography, the article suggests that these stories reflect ancient Indian awareness of distant lands and earlier migrations.

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Conclusion

The conclusion notes that Puranic geography blends imagination and knowledge. It projects Indian cosmological ideas onto remote islands and underworld realms, providing a mythic framework for understanding the world and possible early migrations.

Key passages

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  • “The Southern Hemisphere too was similarly divided into Naga Loka, the seven Patada couniries and the Naraka laud. Yo the south*® of India, in the Indian Ocean there were many small hilly islands rising on the peaks of a mountain range called the Vidyutvan range, inhabited Ly a shor¢ statured people of cloud-blue colour enjoying short life, living vn green fruits, roots, herbs anid foliage like monkeys and cows.”
  • “Patala region is descrihed in glowing terms as the land of pleasure, peace, prosperity and happiness. The Svarga countries were no match to it in respect of health, wealth and beauty. The climate here was ever temperate and pleasant.”
  • “Now, the Puranas unanimously declare*? that in the winter solstice, when the sun rises at the AmarAvati town, the capital of the Indra, it is midnight at Saiijamanapura, the capital of Yama, sunset at Sudha, the capital of Varuna, and midday at Vibhavari, the capital of Soma.’”

Works cited in this article

  1. Mbk., Ud. 98-2103
  2. Mbh., Ud. 99, 1
  3. Harivamsa (IIT, 12, 13)
  4. Imperial Gazetteer of India (Vol. I, pp. 288 ond 381)
  5. Pargiter, Ancient Indiun Historicul Traditions p. 46

Discussed in this article

People

Places

Texts & works

Dynasties, sects & groups

  • Daityas

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In this issue

Vol. 10 · No. 1
1–11Evolution of VijñanavadaVidhushekhara Bhattacharya12–13Quotations by Bhoja from the KamasutraDasharatha Sharma14–25Pre-Aryan Elements in Indian CultureAtul Krishna Sur26–36Events leading to the Ambela ExpeditionR. R. Sethi37–47Dravidic "Water"L. V. Ramaswami Aiyar48–53Candragupta Vikramaditya and GovindaV. V. Mirashi54–56Sohgaura Copper-plateB. M. Barua57–66Old Brahmi Inscription of MahasthanB. M. Barua67–81Persian and Greek Coins and their Imitations in Ancient IndiaSurendra Kishore Chakraborty82–89CatustavaPrabhubhai Patel90–98Eastern CalukyasDhirendra Chandra Ganguly100–103Damaged Sripur PlatesL. P. Pandeya Sharma105–111Pancatantra of VasubhāgaA. Venkatasubbiah112–115Domicile of the Author of Campu BhārataV. B. Naik116–120Trilingual Inscription (1734 AD)Puranchand Nahar121–124Puranic TraditionsNarayana TripathiCurrent article125–136A Further Note on the Origin of the Bell CapitalA. K. Mitra137–142Home of AryadevaNalinaksha Dutt143–147Some Dravidian Features in Indo-Chinese Social LifeS. V. Viswanatha148–153A Note on Jaina Hymns and Magic SquaresHiralal B. Kapadia154–156Vainyagupta DvadasadityaDhirendra Chandra Ganguly156–157Phallus Worship in the VedaVidhushekhara Bhattacharya158–160A Note on the SalankayanasM. Rama Rao161–163The Natyasastra and the AbhinavabharatiMano Mohan Ghosh163–165The name of the Autlior of the NyayasaraDasharatha Sharma165–166Vyomasiva, the author of VyomavatiDasharatha Sharma167–196ReviewsSushil Kumar De, Mano Mohan Ghosh, U. N. Ghoshal, Batakrishna Ghosh, D. L. De197–203Select Contents of Oriental Journals204–209Bibliographical Notes

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