The Hindu philosophers describe the terraqueous globe as comprising seven insular continents and seven seas, the whole area of land and sea measuring* 7,957,750 yojanas.
1. Jambu Dwípa* is an island surrounded by the ocean, and is the habitation of the human race and the greater part of the animal creation. They consider it together with half the ocean, as equal to a half of the whole globe. The breadth of the ocean is 130 yojanas, and the breadth of the island is 1,265 yojanas, of which 65 are water, and the superficial area of this island with the sea is 3,978,875 yojanas, of which 417,360 are water. They say that in the centre of the Earth is a mountain of gold like an axis, and that part of it which with reference to Jambu Dwípa is above the Earth, is called Suméru and is 84,000 yojanas high. They believe that the degrees of paradise are on its summit and around its sides. It is said to be the same depth below the surface, and this is known as Baḍwánal and extraordinary fables are told of it. This is the account of the fanatical traditionists of this people, but the learned among them, like the Greeks, do not admit of a height over 2⅓ farsakh.
2. Sháka-dwípa: half the sea bounds it on one side, and its superficial extent is 427,424 yojanas. Beyond this is a sea of milk, of 801,097 yojanas.
3. Shálmali Dwípa; 320,120 yojanas. Beyond this is a sea of curds, of 633,553 yojanas.
4. Kusha Dwípa: 286,749 yojanas. Beyond this is a sea of butter, of 459,792 yojanas.
5. Krauncha Dwípa: 181,684 yojanas. The sea beyond is the juice of sugarcane, of 250,504 yojanas.
6. Gomedaka Dwípa: 86,580 yojanas. The sea beyond is of wine, of 71,648 yojanas.
7. Pushkara Dwípa: 14,204 yojanas. Beyond is the sea of sweet water, of 28,160 yojanas.
The breadth of each sea is 130 yojanas, and the breadth of each island, 70 yojanas. In these six last Dwípas, are located the degrees of the lower regions. The seven seas measure together 3,079,474 yojanas and the dry land 4,878,278 yojanas.
The habitation of men and animals extends to the 53rd degree of latitude, being 728 yojanas.