DIVIPA. SANSK. An island, from Dwi, two, and Ap, water ; also an extensive region or con tinent. The cosmogmphy of the Agni Purana divides the world then known to the Hindus into seven dwipa or continents,—(1) Jambu-dwipa, (2) Alaksha, (3) Salmali, (4) Kusa, (5) Kranncha, (6) Saka, (7) Pushkara. Jambu-dwipa, according to the Hindus, the division of the world in which India lies, wns so named because the jambu tree grows in it. Saka-dwipa, whose inhabitants descended from Bup'ha, are termed Saceswara, i.e. Sacco lords. Bup'ha's offspring or descendants were Julud, Sookmar, Manichuk, Koorum, Ootures, Darbeeka, Drooma, each of whom gavo his name to a Khand or division (qu. Sookmar Khand). The chief ranges of mountaina wero Juldus, Itaivat, Siamah, Indue, Amki, Rim, and Kesari. There were seven grand rivers, viz. Mug, Mugud, Arverna, etc. The inhabitants worship the sun. We must believe that this Saka-dwipa or Sacatai is the Scythia of the ancients ; and the Saceswam (the Saca of Menu), the Sam so well known in western history, the progenitors of the Parthians, whose first (ad) king wa.s Arsaca. Tho sun-worship indicates the adorer of Mithras, the Mitra or Surya of the Hindu ; the Arverna recalls the Araxes applied to tho Jaxartes ; while Julud, the proper name of tho son of the first king of Saka dwipa, appears to bo the Juldus of the Tatar historian Abulgazi, who uses the same term as does the Hindu, to designate a range of moun tains. 1Vhence this identity between Puranie
and Tatar cosmography ? The grand international conflict,' amongst the fifty-six Yadu tribes at Kuru Khetra, and subsequently at Dwamka, aro sufficiently known to the reader of Hindu Watery. A chief of the twice-born tribe (i.e. Brahmans) was brought by Vishnu's eagle from Snka-dwipa, and thus have Saka-dwipa Brainnans become known in Jambu-dwipa. And 3fenu says that it was only on their ceasing to sanction Brahman's residing amongst them, that the inhabitants of these remote western regions became .M.Illeella or barbarians, testimonies which must be held con clusive of perfect intercourse and reciprocity of sentiment between the nations of Central Asia and India at periods tho most remote.—Ted's Rajas than, ii. pp. 218, 219.; Transactions of the Royal Asiatic Society, vol. iii., vide paper entitled Com parison of the Ilindoo and Theban Hercules ; Illr. Colebrooke on Indian Classes ; As. Res. v. p. 53.