Saptadvipa, Sapta-dvipa, Saptadvīpa, Saptadvīpā, Saptan-dvipa: 15 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
Languages
1. Marathi
2. Sanskrit
3. Kannada
4. Nepali
See also

Introduction:

Saptadvipa means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Wisdom Library: Varāha-purāṇa

Saptadvīpa (सप्तद्वीप).—In purāṇic cosmology, there are “seven islands (dvīpa)” ruled over by seven sons of Priyavrata (son of Svāyambhuva Manu), according to the Varāhapurāṇa chapter 74. Svāyambhuva Manu was created by Brahmā, who was in turn created by Nārāyaṇa (the unknowable all-pervasive primordial being).

The names of the seven dvīpas and their respective rulers are:

Jambūdvīpa, ruled over by Āgnīdhra,
Śākadvīpa, ruled over by Medhātithi,
Krauñcadvīpa, ruled over by Jyotiṣmān,
Śālmalidvīpa, ruled over by Dyutimān,
Gomedadvīpa, ruled over by Havya,
Plakṣadvīpa, ruled over by Vapuṣmān,
Puṣkaradvīpa, ruled over by Savana.

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Saptadvīpa (सप्तद्वीप) refers to the “seven continents”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.35. Accordingly, as Viṣṇu said to Dakṣa:—“[...] on hearing these words of Viṣṇu, Dakṣa began to ponder. He sat quietly on the ground with his face turned pale. [...] The whole earth containing the seven continents (saptadvīpa) shook with fear. All the oceans, forests and mountains were excessively agitated”.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Saptadvīpa (सप्तद्वीप).—The seven islands of the earth.^*

* Vāyu-purāṇa 33. 4; 34. 7; 70. 18; 93. 89; 94. 14. 99. 17-133; 102. 28; 110. 22.

context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Śaivism

Saptadvīpa (सप्तद्वीप) refers to the seven continents situated within the world of the earth (pṛthivī), according to Parākhyatantra 5.61. These continents are located above the seven pātālas.

These are the seven continents (dvīpa) collectively known as saptadvīpa:

Jambū-dvīpa,
Śāka-dvīpa,
Kuśa-dvīpa,
Krauñca-dvīpa,
Śālma-dvīpa,
Gomeda-dvīpa,
Puṣkara-dvīpa.

Each continent may contain even more sub-continents within them, are round in shape, and are encircled within seven concentric oceans.

The Parākhyatantra is an old Śaiva-siddhānta tantra dating from before the 10th century.

context information

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Prabhupada Books: Sri Caitanya Caritamrta (jyotisha)

Saptadvīpa (सप्तद्वीप) refers to the “seven islands”, as mentioned in the Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta 2.20.387ff.—Accordingly, “The sun moves across the zodiac day and night and crosses the oceans between the seven islands [i.e., saptadvīpa-ambudhi] one after the other. According to Vedic astronomical calculations, the rotation of the sun consists of sixty daṇḍas, and it is divided into thirty-six hundred palas. The sun rises in steps consisting of sixty palas. Sixty palas equal one daṇḍa, and eight daṇḍas comprise one prahara. The day and the night are divided into eight praharas—four belonging to the day and four belonging to the night. After eight praharas, the sun rises again”.

context information

Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.

Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)

Source: University of Vienna: Sudarśana's Worship at the Royal Court According to the Ahirbudhnyasaṃhitā

Saptadvīpa (सप्तद्वीप) or Saptadvīpavatī refers to the “whole earth with her seven divisions” (and her garment of seas), according to the Ahirbudhnyasaṃhitā, belonging to the Pāñcarātra tradition which deals with theology, rituals, iconography, narrative mythology and others.—Accordingly, “The King shall obtain territory, victory, wealth, a long life and freedom from diseases. A King who regularly worships shall conquer this whole earth, with her seven divisions and her garment of seas (saptadvīpa-vatī)”.

context information

Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Hinduism

Saptadvīpa (सप्तद्वीप):—According to Puranic cosmography, the entire Cosmos is divided into seven concentric island continents (sapta-dvipa vasumati) separated by the seven encircling oceans, each double the size of the preceding one (going out from within). The seven continents of the Puranas are stated as

Jambudvipa,
Plaksadvipa,
Salmalidvipa,
Kusadvipa,
Krouncadvipa,
Sakadvipa,
and Pushkaradvipa.

Seven intermediate oceans consist of salt-water, sugarcane juice, wine, ghee, curd, milk and water respectively.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

saptadvīpa (सप्तद्वीप).—m pl (S) The seven dvīpa or great divisions of the earth; viz. jambu, kuśa, plakṣa, śālmalī, krauñca, śāka, puṣkara.

context information

Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Saptadvīpā (सप्तद्वीपा).—an epithet of the earth; पुरा सप्तद्वीपां जयति वसुधामप्रतिरथः (purā saptadvīpāṃ jayati vasudhāmapratirathaḥ) Ś.7.33.

Saptadvīpā is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms saptan and dvīpā (द्वीपा).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Saptadvīpā (सप्तद्वीपा).—

(-pā) An epithet of the earth.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Saptadvīpa (सप्तद्वीप).—1. (°—) the seven islands, i.e. the earth.

--- OR ---

Saptadvīpa (सप्तद्वीप).—2. [feminine] ā consisting of seven islands (the earth).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Saptadvīpa (सप्तद्वीप):—[=sapta-dvīpa] [from sapta > saptan] ([in the beginning of a compound]) the 7 divisions of the earth, the whole earth, [Purāṇa]

2) [v.s. ...] mf(ā)n. consisting of 7 Dvīpas (the earth), [Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa; Śakuntalā] etc.

3) Saptadvīpā (सप्तद्वीपा):—[=sapta-dvīpā] [from sapta-dvīpa > sapta > saptan] f. Name of the earth, [Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary]

[Sanskrit to German]

Saptadvipa in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Saptadvīpa (ಸಪ್ತದ್ವೀಪ):—

1) [noun] (used in pl. with -ಗಳು [galu]) the seven mythological divisions of the earth - Jambu, Plakṣa, Śalmalī, Kuśa, Kraunca, Śaka and Puṣkara.

2) [noun] the earth which is mytologically divided into seven divisions.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

Nepali dictionary

Source: unoes: Nepali-English Dictionary

Saptadvīpa (सप्तद्वीप):—n. Mythol. the seven divisions of the world;

context information

Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.

Relevant text

Search found 18 books and stories containing Saptadvipa, Sapta-dvipa, Sapta-dvīpa, Sapta-dvīpā, Saptadvīpa, Saptadvīpā, Saptan-dvipa, Saptan-dvīpā; (plurals include: Saptadvipas, dvipas, dvīpas, dvīpās, Saptadvīpas, Saptadvīpās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Part 1 - Bhūvanakoṣa: Geography of Seven Continents (saptadvīpā) < [Chapter 8 - Geographical data in the Matsyapurāṇa]

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Puranic Geography: Chatur-dvipa and Sapta-dvipa < [Purana, Volume 1, Part 2 (1960)]

The Story of Arjuna Kartavirya without Reconstruction < [Purana, Volume 12, Part 2 (1970)]

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Verse 4.19.34 < [Chapter 19 - A Thousand Names of Srī Yamunā]

Verses 4.19.138-139 < [Chapter 19 - A Thousand Names of Srī Yamunā]

Verse 3.1.31 < [Chapter 1 - The Worship of Śrī Girirāja]

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Story of Saptadvīpas

Story of Jambū-dvīpa

Story of Purūravas