Saptadvipa

Saptadvipa, meaning seven islands, is a term in Hindu cosmology referring to a seven-island division of the terrestrial world (Bhūloka) described in Puranic literature. In these accounts, the earth's surface is segmented into seven great dvipas (continents or islands) arranged around Mount Meru, with oceans separating them. The central landmass is frequently identified with Jambudvipa, home to Bharata-varsha, though the precise naming and boundaries vary between texts. Surrounding dvipas are described as distinct regions with their own peoples, climates, and virtues, illustrating a symbolic map of human civilizations and moral geography. The descriptions appear in several Puranas, including the Vishnu Purana and the Bhagavata Purana, as well as in the Padma and other repositories of puranic cosmology.

The Saptadvipa framework functions primarily as mythic geography rather than a literal map. It conveys ideas about cosmic order, the ascent of the soul, and regional lore, rather than providing navigable geography. In art and temple iconography, the seven-dvipa model is sometimes used to illustrate the cosmic center and periphery, and to structure ritual spaces or pilgrimage narratives.

In modern scholarship, Saptadvipa is treated as a traditional cosmographic schema that reflects ancient Indian concepts of the earth, varshas (regions), and dharma. While it influenced later geographies and religious thought, it is not considered a geographic account by contemporary standards.