The Geography of the Puranas c7.s5.32

c7.s5.32

There are five enclosed or partially enclosed seas to the north-west of Jambū Dwīpa, the Baltic, the Mediterranean, the Black Sea, the Caspian and the Aral Sea. Of these only the Black sea practically fulfils all the conditions mentioned in 1-6 above. The Baltic, the Aral and the Caspian are flanked by deserts (hot or cold) which are either uninhabited or uninhabitable and therefore the bordering lands do not qualify for the term ‘dwīpa’ applied by the Purāṇas. Besides their characteristics as regards climate, rivers and mountains are just opposite to those mentioned in the Purāṇas. The Mediterranean region is too large a unit to be considered as an annular region surrounding an inland sea. Besides, its southern margin is a desert practically reaching its southern shore We may, therefore, conclude that the Krauñcadwīpa of the Purāṇas is represented by the basin of the Black Sea.53