Cosmography and Geography in Early Indian Literature c6.s2.26

c6.s2.26

That the conception of the four-continent earth lingered on ever after the seven-continent theory had attained great popularity is sometimes indicated by the Purāṇas which speak of the four forms of Viṣṇu in the four islands (Hayaśiras in Bhadrāśva, Varāha in Ketumāla, Kūrma in Bhārata and Matsya in Kuru or Uttara-Kuru)²⁶ as also of the four courses of the Ganges falling from the moon on to Mount Meru and then flowing east through Bhadrāśva, north through Uttara-Kuru and west through Ketumāla, while its southern stream was held up by Śiva in the Himavat, who allowed it to pass to the south sea through Bhārata or Bhagīratha’s kingdom at the latter’s request.²⁷