45- The Significance of Bharatvarsha in Jambudweep: A Land Even the Devatas Wish to Be Born In

Description of the Nine Varshas of Jambudweep

1. Ilavritvarsha:
   • Ilavritvarsha is spread around Mount Meru.
   • Bhagwan Shankar is the ruler of this Varsha, and here He resides with Mata Parvati.
   • Bhagwan Shankar meditates on and praises Sankarshan, one of the four forms of the Supreme Purush (Vasudev, Sankarshan, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha).
2. Bhadrashwavarsha:
   • Dharmaputra Bhadrashrava and his chief servants worship Bhagwan Hayagriva, saying, "Your form is a combination of a human and a horse. When the Daityas stole the Vedas during the time of pralaya, You brought them from Rasatal upon Brahmaji's prayers. I bow to You, the one who performs such miraculous deeds and is the embodiment of firm resolve."
3. Harivarsha:
   • Here, Prahladji and the other inhabitants of the Varsha worship Bhagwan Nrisimha with selfless and unwavering devotion.
   • Praising Bhagwan Nrisimha, Prahlad says, "The person who has selfless devotion to God naturally harbours Dharma, Jnana (knowledge), and virtues in their heart. But those who are not devotees of Bhagwan cannot have virtues; they remain entangled in worldly matters.
   • Just as a fish's life depends on water, all living beings' dearest soul is Shree Hari. But the arrogant person, who abandons Him and gets caught up in worldly life, is only judged by their age, not by their virtues. Therefore, O Asuras! Renounce desire, attachment, anger, fear, and illusion, and take refuge in the fearless lotus feet of Shree Nrisimhadev. This is the path to liberation from the cycle of birth and death."
4. Ketumalvarsha:
   • Here, Shree Narayan resides in the form of Kamadev to please Goddess Lakshmi and the children of Prajapati named Samvatsara. The sons of Samvatsara are the deities of the days, and the daughters are the goddesses of the nights. Their number equals the total number of days and nights in a human's hundred-year lifespan, i.e., 36,000 years, and they are the rulers of this Varsha.
   • Lakshmiji praises Bhagwan, saying, "O Lord! You are the master of the senses and the true protector. Women worship You with strict vows to desire the husbands of their choice, but those husbands, enslaved by their fate, cannot protect them. The true husband is the one who is fearless and capable of protecting others, and that is only You. The woman who devotes herself only to Your lotus feet has fulfilled all her desires. But the one who worships You for a specific desire receives only that object, which, after being enjoyed, perishes and brings suffering. Even gods like Brahma and Shiva perform penance to attain me, but only those who take refuge in Your feet can obtain me. My mind is always with You. O Achyuta! Kindly place Your lotus hand on my head. I am only the Lakshmi whom You adorn on Your chest. No one can understand the mystery of Your divine pastimes."
5. Ramyakvarsha:
   • Here, Manu worships and praises Matsya Avatar, the form of Bhagwan Vishnu and says: "O Lord, You are the foundation of creation, the soul, the strength, and the embodiment of the Vedas. Just as a puppet master makes puppets dance, You direct the creation. You are present inside and outside all beings as life and air. During pralaya, You saved the Earth and plants. O Controller of the Universe, I bow to You."
6. Hiranyamayvarsha:
   • Here, the inhabitants, along with Pitriraj Aryama, worship the Kachchhap form of Bhagwan Vishnu.
   • Aryama says: "Although this world may seem illusory, it is, in fact, Your Maya, and it is Your form. You are present as various beings, gods, sages, elements, planets, and stars. The twenty-four elements described by Kapil Muni and the knowledge of those elements are also Your forms. O Ineffable Lord, I bow to You."
7. Uttarkuruvrsha:
   • Here, Narayan resides in the form of Yajnapurusha Varah. The inhabitants and Bhudevi (Mother Earth) praise Him with unwavering devotion: "You are beyond all illusory forms. Through Yoga and meditation, the wise experience Your reality. Just as iron moves under the power of a magnet, nature creates, sustains, and dissolves through Your will. O Adi Sukar (Primal Boar) of the Universe, You killed Hiranyaksha and saved me from the waters of pralaya. I bow to You repeatedly."
8. Kimpurushvarsha:
   • In Kimpurushvarsha, the great devotee Shree Hanumanji, the inhabitants, and the region's chief Arshtishena remain always immersed in unwavering devotion to Shree Ramchandraji.
   • Hanumanji prays, "We bow to Bhagwan Shree Ram, who exemplifies the highest standards of character, ethics, and compassion for all. His incarnation serves not only to vanquish evil but also to share profound wisdom with humanity. 
   • Shree Ram is pure, unique, and the soul of all beings. His pastimes of sorrow and actions are only to educate the world. He befriended the forest-dwelling monkeys to show that true happiness does not come from noble lineage, beauty, or intelligence; it is attained only through devotion."

   • Suro asuro vaa api atha vaanaro narah
     Sarva aatmana yah sukrutajnam uttamam
     
     Bhajet Raamam manujaa krutim Harim
     Yah uttaraan anayat Kosalaan divam iti

   • Whether a deity, a demon, a monkey, or a human, anyone who, with full devotion, worships Bhagwan Shree Ram, the Supreme Lord in human form, is blessed. You, being so compassionate towards Your devotees, consider even the smallest of deeds as great. You are so affectionate towards Your devotees that when You ascended to Your divine abode, You took all the people of Uttarakosala with You. (Bhagavat 5.19.8)
9. Bharatvarsha:
   • Here, Bhagwan Nar-Narayan remains in an unmanifest state, meditating till the end of the Kalpa to bestow His grace upon the disciplined individuals. His penance continuously increases in Dharma (righteousness), Jnana (knowledge), Vairagya (detachment), Aishwarya (prosperity), Shanti (peace), and Uparati (renunciation), and ultimately leads to the attainment of Self-realisation.
   • Here, Naradji, following the instructions given by Bhagwan, imparts the teachings of Sankhya and Yog Shastra, along with his Panchratra Darshan, to Savarni Rishi. Along with other pure devotees who follow the Varnashrama dharma, they offer their prayers to Bhagwan:
   • "Bhagwan Nar-Narayan is free from ego and is serene. He is the Guru of the Paramhans and the Lord of those who are immersed in the Self. Though God is the creator of the universe, He remains untouched by ego and is not influenced by the attributes of the body."

Bharatvarsha: Where Attainment of Moksha is Possible, Hence Even the Gods Desire Human Birth

Aho ameeshaam kim akaari shobhanam
Prasanna eshaam swid uta svayam Harih

Yaih janma labdham nrishu Bhaarat aajire
Mukunda sevaa upayikam sprihaa hi nah

Kim dushkaraih nah kratu bhih tapo vrataih
Daan aadibhih vaa dyu jayena phalguna

Na yatra Naaraayana paada pankaja
Smritih pramushta atishaya indriya utsavaat

Na yatra Vaikuntha kathaa sudhaapaga
Na saadhavo Bhaagavataah tad aashrayaah

Na yatra yagnesha makhaa mahotsavaah
Suresha loko api na vai sa sevyataam

Praptaa nrijaatim tu iha ye cha jantavah
Jnaana kriyaa dravya kalaapa sambhritaam

Na vai yatet annapunarbhavaaya te
Bhuyo vana okaah iva yaanti bandhanam

Nah svarga sukha avasheshitam
Svishtasya sooktasya kritasya shobhanam

Tena ajanabhe smruti majjanma nah syaad
Varshe Harih yad bhajataam sham tanoti