The Geography of the Puranas c7.s4.62

c7.s4.62

The monsoon lands of Asia where teak is found include Burma, Malaya, Siam and Indo-China. Of these, Burma and Malaya traditionally formed units of the adjacent Peninsulas and Islands of Bhāratavarṣa.¹⁰ Śākadvīpa, therefore, can be identified with Malaya, Siam, Indo-China and Southern China or the South-Eastern corner of the land mass of which Jambū Dvīpa occupied the centre. The turbulent and foamy sea known as the Southern China Sea which surrounds this dvīpa on three sides was called 'The Sea of Milk,' or 'Kṣīra Samudra' as conceived by the Purāṇas. It is to be noted that in the Matsya, Varāha, Padma and Skanda Purāṇas as well as in the Mahābhārata and the Siddhānta Śiromaṇi, Śākadvīpa appears next to the Jambū Dvīpa and one could approach it by crossing the Kṣīra Samudra or the Bay of Bengal. This identification is supported by the following facts: