Imperceptible Gateway from Earth to Heaven
Eastern Side of ‘Ancient
Indian Geography’
Depicted by
Maharshi Valmiki
Vanam Jwala
Narasimha Rao
The Hans India
(18-02-2024)
The first ever recorded chronicle of
lands, oceans, islands, inhabitants etc. in the universe, is in the ‘Kishkindha
Kanda’ of Maharshi Valmiki Sanskrit Ramayana and Telugu Version Vasudasa
Swamy Andhra Valmiki Ramayana. This spectacular ‘Ancient Indian Geography’
was nothing short of the so-called Google Maps. The Context was, when Monkey
Chiefs with Vanaras went around the earth, East, South, North-West and North
sides, at the behest of King Sugreeva in search of abducted Sita by Ravana, Sugreeva
enlightened them, the topography with minute details. Vinata went to East,
Angada and Hanuman to South, Sushena to West, and Shatabali to North.
The East Side referred was the East of
‘Jambu Dwipa,’ the Indian subcontinent inclusive of South-East Asia, encompassing
Mount Mandara, Adi Shesha, Mount Sunrise, Eastern Compass, Gateway to Heaven
etc. The meridian of Saraswati Triveni, confluence of Rivers Ila, Bharati, and
Saraswati, is still the Prime Meridian for Indian Astronomers. The first
observatory Ujjain, the place where an Ancient River ‘Saravati’ flowed
circuitously in Central India, is on this Meridian. Saravati pronounced as
‘Sharavati’ could also be a River that originates and flows within Karnataka
State.
Places sequentially indicated on East
Side were: Riversides of Bhagirathi or Ganga, Sarayu, Kaushiki (Coosi), Yamuna,
Mount Kalinda, Rivers Saraswati, Sindhu, Shona (Shon), Kaala Mahi etc. River
‘Saraswati’ the ‘Creative Center of Man’ was once coursed during Vedic Period either
disappeared or maybe coursing underground. It is believed that, this perennial
river was flowing from Himalayas through Punjab, Haryana, Western Rajasthan,
and through the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, and if this could be traced, it will
be an abundant source of underground water. River Sindhu and westerly Indus
River are also may be different. It is believed as another easterly River
called Indusa. Then come kingdoms Brahma Maala, Videha (Mithila birth place of
Sita, now known as Tirhoot), Malva, Kaashi, Kosala, Magadha (Bihar), Pundra,
Anga, and Koshakaara.
Then come, peak of Mount Mandara, that
harbored extensive unsightly and odd physical featured beings, Unkillable,
Mighty Man-Eater Tribals some of whom appear as horrific half-man half-tiger
like mermaids. Going beyond by mountaineering or hopping, or boating, one will
come across, the splendorous Yava (Jawa) Island with seven kingdoms. These,
could be the group of islands, Jawa, Sumatra, Bali, Indonesia etc. referred as
Indian ‘Chief Archipelago.’ In and around Yava islands there are Golden and
Silver islands with gold-mines. Ganesha Stone Image has been found in many
parts of Jawa and Bali. Mountain Shishira, which touches heaven with its peak, adored
by Gods and Demons is found on crossing over Yava Island.
Reddish Watered River Shona, in
appearance as a Vast Ocean, with gulfs and bays studded with an infinity of
islands, deep and speedy drift, adored by Siddhas and Charanas, is found on
other coast of ocean. On proceeding further Plaksha Island, where vast rivers
emerge from mountains, is seen. Then the Ikshu Island and the terribly furious,
tempestuous, blaring, and tide-ripped Ikshu Samudra or Salt Ocean will appear. Colossal
bodied demons with everlasting hunger inhibit that ocean, which demons always
capture, prey by the shadow as endued by Brahma.
Moving ahead, the disastrous Lohita Ocean
or Red Ocean (Madhu Samudra or Wine Ocean) is seen, where there is an island
called Shalmali Dwipa or Shalmali Island. It is named so because of Shalmali tree
that stands there. Mansion, constructed by Vishvakarma, the Heavenly Architect
for Vinata's son, Garuda, the Eagle-Vehicle of Vishnu, which is decorated with
numerous jewels, and in shine like Mount Kailash, the abode of Shiva is seen in
that Island.
Horrifying and merciless Mandeha
Demons, hanging upside down from mountain peaks are seen nearby there. Mandeha
demons attack the rising Sun, who overcomes them with the help of the palmfuls
of water, offered by worshippers and consecrated with the Gayatri Hymn. The Sun
proceeding on his way will burn them down. Mandehas regain their lives and
start repeating the same obstruction of Sun's path on next morning by hanging
from the peaks of mountain.
Milky Ocean (Jaloda Sea), looks like a
whitish cloud and a lustrous necklace with waves swaying is seen next. White
mountain ‘Rishabha,’ of colossal size, surrounded by trees the flowers of which
have heavenly fragrance, is in its center. ‘Lake Sudarshana’ replete with
silvery lotuses whose threads are golden in sparkle is also seen, where kingly
swans are seen running about. The lake attracts Charanas, yakshas, kinnaras and
hosts of apsara females, coming to play in the waters.
On crossing this, the soft-water ocean,
frightening all beings is seen. Nearby exists Horse Faced dreadfully bright
Fire, originated from the anger of Sage Aurasa. Yelling sounds from oceanic
beings dwelling undersea are audible there. This evidently refers to the Submarine
Volcanic Fire, which often changed the characteristic of Indian Archipelago and
the groups of islands lying in the Pacific. On the northerly area of the ocean
there is an enormous, thirteen Yojanas length, ‘Mountain Jatarupashila,’ also known
as ‘Golden Rock Mountain,’ glittering like gold.
Then there is seen, the ‘Adi Shesha,
the Chesterfield of Lord Vishnu, Ananta,’ the lotus-petal broad-eyed
thousand-hooded Serpent God, sitting on top of that mountain holding the
Universe on his hoods. It is the symbol of the sky or infinite space studded
with the starry and planetary systems. The insignia or emblem of ‘Ananta,’ a Golden
Pylon resembling palm tree with three branches on the peak of that mountain,
radiating with golden podium appears there. This pylon of palm tree is
constructed as the ‘Easterly Compass’ by Celestial Gods. Beyond this pylon, the
divine ‘Majestic Udaya Mountain or Mount Sunrise’ that greatly glitters like
golden will be seen. Beyond this, it is all west. Mount Sunrise, splendorous
with attractively flowered and sun like glittering trees, with its Peaks of
Hundred Yojanas height touching heavens, is spectacular in look.
On top of Mount Sunrise, another
pinnacle ‘Saumanasa Peak’ of one Yojana width and ten Yojanas height, also
completely golden one, is seen. Saumanasa Peak is to the eastern border of
India near the tropic of cancer. Thill is now known as 'Somara' in Manipur. It
is believed that the God Almighty, Supreme Being, and the Trivikrama, or Lord
Vishnu made his first Foothold on that pinnacle Saumanasa, and the second on
the pinnacle of Mount Meru to tread the Heavens. The Sun is by far visible in
Jambu Dwipa when he rises on Saumanasa, after he had circled the Jambu Dwipa in
a northerly route. This is an interesting reference to the physical phenomena
of the apparent motion of the sun, which sets in west (America) and reappears
in East (Asia).
There the great two different groups
of sages ‘Vaikhanasas and Vaalakhilyaas’ will come into view with a feel of
brilliance, for those ascetics will be with the glory of the Sun. Then the
‘Sudarshana Lake’ and ‘Sudarshana Island’ will be seen, in the presence of
which resplendence, the eyes of all living beings will become enlightened due
to the illuminating entity of universe, the Sun, will be sojourning.
The eastern dawn sparks redly because
the golden hue of Mount Sunrise overlaps the resplendence of the generous Sun.
In the beginning Brahma, the Creator, ordained this Mount Sunrise to be the ‘Gateway
for the Earth to Heaven,’ and even as the rising place for the Sun, as such
this is verily said as the 'Eastern Quarter of the Compass.’ Beyond Mount
Sunrise the eastern quarter is blocked. It will be bordered with Gods since it
is the Gateway to ‘Heaven,’ and everything is imperceptible, since it will be
void of both Sun and Moon.
(Courtesy: Vasudasa Swamy Andhra Valmiki
Ramayana
and Desiraju Hanumanta Rao Valmiki Ramayana English
Version)
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