The Universal System of Astronomy

Siddhānta Sārvabhauma ...is thirty-two likely referring to a distance in Yojanas or degrees, following the logic of what has been established. 54. Some say this region is situated in the middle of the Salt Ocean original: kṣārābdhi, and thus there is no error. However, this is not correct, because the movement to the other islands occurs to the north of the Salt Ocean. 55. If one were to accept that [faulty] premise, the earth would consist of only one island, because there would be no distinction between the islands and the oceans. But the earth is composed of Seven Islands term: Sapta-dvīpa; the traditional Purāṇic cosmography of seven concentric island-continents; therefore, the traditional view of the Sages original: ārṣaṃ; "of the Ṛṣis" is the one that is logically sound. 56.

From the center of Lanka term: Laṅkā; in Indian astronomy, this represents the intersection of the equator and the prime meridian, not necessarily the modern island of Sri Lanka, one should imagine lines of degrees surrounding the globe in every direction. Using Lanka as the center, one should draw circles at intervals of 9 degrees up to 50 degrees. 57. In the northern division, the line of the Salt Ocean and the boundary of the Snowy Mountains original: Himādri; the Himalayas form a circumference. The land in the middle is indeed the region of Bharata original: Bhārata-varṣa, which is famous among those who understand the globe of the earth. 58.

At a distance of 46 degrees and 25 minutes from the center of Lanka, there is a semi-circle; beyond that is the Golden Peak mountain original: Hemakūṭa. The beautiful land located in the interval between Lanka and this mountain is Kinnara-varsha. 59. At 7 and a half degrees from there measured from the previous boundary, there is a semi-circle which marks the Niṣadha mountain. The land in the middle, up to the Hemakūṭa mountain, is shaped like a bow-string; this region is called Harivarsha. 60.

In the same way, using the coordinates described from the city of Siddhapura term: Siddhapura; the city located on the equator exactly opposite to Lanka on the other side of the globe, there are three semi-circles representing the mountains named Śṛṅgavat, Śukla, and Nīla, occurring in that order. 61. Following this method, there are three regions original: varṣas belonging to these: Kuru-varsha, Hiraṇmaya-varsha, and Ramyaka-varsha, which are inhabited by people. 62.

The Mālyavān mountain and the city of Yamakoṭi term: Yamakoṭi; the city 90 degrees east of Lanka on the equator are situated at 64 degrees and 45 minutes. From the city of Romaka term: Romaka; the city 90 degrees west of Lanka on the equator, often associated with the Roman West lies the Sugandha mountain. Both the Nīla and Niṣadha mountains touch these ranges. 63. The land between Yamakoṭi and the Mālyavān mountain is called Bhadrāśva by the greatest of sages. The land area between the city of Romaka and the Sugandha mountain is known here as Ketumāla. 64.

The width of each of these mountains, starting with the Himalayas, is 2 degrees. Whatever has been stated here regarding these divisions is certainly and permanently true. 65. The Niṣadha, Nīla, and Sugandha mountains...