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The lower regions (alt) represents the lower limbs and includes the seven earths in the midst of each of which lies a bell named after its own earth. These earths which gradually increase in size as we go down, are named 699H! paved with sharp stones, or abounding in diamonds, rubies etc' plane 97 paved with pointed stones of sugar-loaf shape a/4T 591 sprinkled with sand, 45471 'full of mud', ETA THI "filled with smoke 4:9277 'filled with darkness', and HETTA:THT 'filled with thick darkness.'
The middle region is a flat round surface formed of concentric rings which represent alternately seas and islands, with the continent of Jambudvipa lying at the centre.
Jambudvipa is surrounded by the Salt sea ( nau an ), the latter by the island (or Continent) of Dhatakikhanda, this again by the Black Sea ( fraiera ); and around this lie guccessively the islands of Pashkara, Varuna, Kshira, Ghrita, Ilghvaku. Nandisvara, Aruna and many others each of which is encircled by a sea of the same name. The total number of islands and seas is countless, the last sea being the Svayambhuramana. Each succeeding ring of island and sea has a width double the perceding one ; thus the Jambudvipa has a diametre of 100,000 Yojanas; the width of the Salt sea ring is 200.000 Yojanas, that of the Dhataki Khanda ring 400,000, of the Black sea ring 800,000 Yojanas and so on.
The seas and islands are separated from one another by high walls called Jagati which like the rampart of a town, have four gates one in each direction. In the centre of the Jambudvipa stands the mountain Meru, 100.000 Yojanas bigb and 10,000 Yojanas wide at the base. There are six more ranges which run parallel to each other from east to west and divide the whole continent into seven countries. There are several river systems all of which fall into the salt sea. The names of the the countries and mountain ranges from South to North are Bharata, Himavat (mt.): Haimavanta, Mahahimavat (mt.): Hari, Nishadha (mt.); Mahavideha : Nila (mt); Ramyaka, Rukmin (mt.). Hairanyavata Sikharin (mr.); and Airavata. Bharata and Airavata are further divided into Northern and Southern halves by their Vaitadhya Mountains.
(1) Trushashtisalaka purushacaritra. Parvan I. Sarga I, vv. 22-36:ct. Markandeya Purana, chap. 56 (Bombay edition); chap. 59 (Calcuta edition).)
