*SKANDHA V. CHAP. 17-19.*
Of the nine Varshas, Bharata is the field of Karma (I must now once for
all remind my readers that Bharata when mentioned as a Varsha means
Nabhi Varsha, the whole of this visible earth from the highest point of
the Himalayas downwards). The other Varshas are places of fruition of
the merits of those that go to Svarga. Hence they are called terrestrial
(Bhouma) Svargas.
(Svarga is of three kinds: --
a. Divya viz. Svarga proper or Swar Loka.
b. Bhouma or terrestrial and
c. Bila or Patalic.
_Sridhara_.)
_Ilavrita._ -- The dwellers of this Varsha live for ten thousand years
of human measure. They are like Devas. They have the vitality of ten
thousand elephants. Their body is strong like the thunderbolt They enjoy
with women all their lives and only one year before death do the women
bear children. They always live as it were in Treta Yuga.
Narayana -- the Maha Purusha pervades all the Varshas for their good, in
different forms of His Chatur Vyuha (Vasudeva, Sankarshana, Pradyumna
and Anirudha).
In Ilavrita, Bhava or Siva is the only male. Other males do not enter
that Varsha, for they know the curse of Bhavani (Durga) that whoever
should enter the Varsha was to become a female.
Bhava is adored by millions of women. He meditates on the fourth, the
Tamasa Murti of Mahapurusha _viz._ Shankarshana. He recites the
following mantra and runs about: --
"Om Namo Bhagavate Maha Purushaya Sarva-guna Sankhaynaya Anantaya
Avyaktaya Namaha."
"Om, Salutations to Bhagavat Maha Purusha, salutations to the manifester
of all Gunas, the Endless, the Unmanifested."
Then follows a prayer to Sankarshana for which readers are referred to
the original _Bhadtasva_.
Bhadrasravas is the lord of Bhadrasva. He and his followers dwell there,
they meditate on the Hayasirsha aspect of Vasudeva, they recite the
following mantra and run about.
"Om Namo Bhagavate Dharmaya Atma-visodhanaya namah."
"Om salutations to Bhagavat Dharma; salutations to him who purifies the
soul."
Then follows a prayer to Hayagriva _Harivarsha_.
The renowned saintly Daitya Prahlada with the dwellers of this Varsha
adore Him and recite the following mantra.
"Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Nara Sinhaya Namastejastejase Aviravir bhava
vajranakha vajra-danstra Karma-Sayan randhaya randhaya tamo grasa om
Svaha Abhayam Abhoyam Atmani bhuyisthuh om kshroum."
"Om salutations to Bhagavat Sri Hrisinha, Salutations to the fire of all
fires! Manifest Thyself! Manifest thyself O thunder-nailed! O
thunder-toothed! Burn up, burn up all desires! devour Tamas! Om Svaha!
Freedom from fear, freedom from fear be in us. Om! Kohraum!"
_Ketumala._
Pradyumna or Kamadeva presides over Ketumala in order to please Lakshmi
Samvatsara (one year), the daughters of Samvatsara _viz:_ the nights and
Sons of Samvatsara _viz:_ the days. The days and nights are 36,000 in
number _i.e._ as many as are contained in the full term of a man's life
(one hundred years). These days and nights are the lords of Ketumala
Lakshmi with whom the dwellers of Ketumala adore Kamadeva.
(The mantra and prayer are then given.)
_Ramyaka._
Matsya (The Fish Incarnation) presides over Ramyaka. Manu is the King.
(Mantra and prayer follow)
_Hiranmaya._
Kurma (the Tortoise Incarnation) presides over Hiranmaya. Aryaman the
chief of the Pitris dwells there with others.
(Mantra and prayer follow)
_Kuru._
Varsha or the Boar Incarnation presides over Kuru. Bhur with the
dwellers of Kuru adore him.
(Mantra and prayer follow.)
_Kinpurusha._
In Kinpurusha, Hanuman with the dwellers of the Varsha worship the
Adipurusha Rama, brother of Lakshamana and husband of Sita.
(Mantra and prayer follow.)
_Bharat Varsha._
Nara Narayana presides over this Varsha. There are various (castes) and
Asramas in this Varsha. Narada of great devotion leads the people of
this Varsha. His object in so doing is to teach to Savarni, the coming
Manu, the Sankhya and Yoga (as related in the Bhagavat Gita) together
with the full realisation of Bhagavat (as related in the Pancharatras).
[This mission of Narada is specially noteworthy.]
( Mantra and prayer follow.)
In this Bharata Varsha there are many mountains and rivers.
Maloya, Mangalaprastha, Mainaka, Trikuta, Rishava, Kutaka, Konva, Sahya,
Rishyamuka, Srisaila, Venkata, Mahendra, Varidhara, Vindhya, Saktiman,
Riksha, Paripatra, Drona, Chitrakuta, Gobardhana, Raivatak, Kakubha,
Nila, Gokamukha, Indrakila, Kamagiri and hundreds and thousands of other
mountains are situated in this Varsha.
The following are the principal rivers Chandvavasa, Tamvaparni, Avatoda,
Kritamala, Vaihayasi, Kaveri, Venua, Payasvini, Sarkaravarta,
Krishnavenua, Bhimrathi, Godabari, Nirvindhya, Payoshni, Tapi, Reva,
Surasa, Narmada, Charmanvati, Andha, Sona, Mahanadi, Vedasmriti,
Rishikulya, Trisama, Kousiki, Mandakini, Yamuna, Sarasvati, Drishadvati,
Gomati, Saraju, Aghavati, Shasthavati, Saptavati, Satadru, Sushoma,
Chandrabhaga, Maruduridha, Vitasta, Asikini and Visva.
Those that acquire birth in this Varsha have recourse to Svarga,
humanity and Naraka respectively, according as their Karma is White
(Satvic), Red (Rajasic) or Black (Tamasic). The People acquire Moksha in
this Varsha in accordance with their Varna (Caste). (This is because
Karma according to caste prevails in this Varsha, not that Moksha is not
otherwise attainable. _Sridhara_).
And what is moksha in this Varsha? It is the Companionship of Mahatmas
(Mahapurushas) brought about by the destruction of the bonds of Avidya
caused by various births. And that Moksha is in reality unceasing,
unselfish devotion to the All-pervading, Indestructible, Causeless
Paramatma Vasudeva.
Even the Devas say: -- "How fortunate are these people of Bharat Varsha!
For Hari is kind to them, even without many performances and they are so
adapted for communion with Hari by devotion. We have attained Svarga by
the performance of Yajna. But we shall have to be born again after the
end of the Kalpa. What good is in this state, which does not bring us in
direct communion with Vishnu? These people of Bharat Varsha even with
their short lives acquire the state of Hari. If there be any Karma left
to us after the enjoyment of Svarga may we be born as men that we may
worship Hari."
Some say there are eight upadvipas in Jambu Dvipa, formed by the sons of
Sagara when they dug up this earth in search of the sacrificial horse.
They are Svarna Prastha, Chandra Sukla, Avartana, Ramanaka,
Manda-harina, Panchajanya, Sinhala and Louka.