Bhuvana Kosha is a Puranic word denoting ‘dictionary of the universe’. Geography was an essential part of the lives of ancient Hindus. Accordingly, it forms an important section of Hindu Puranas where it is referred to as bhuvana kosha or bhuvana vinyasa (layout of the universe). Rajashekhara wrote an independent work captioned Bhuvana kosha, as we learn from its mention in his Kavyamimamsa. Bhuvana kosha sections of Puranas included the entire globe as it was known to the Hindus centuries ago. Of these Jambudvipa was the most important and was believed to have been divided into nine varshas (countries). Out of these, the southernmost was Haimavatavarsha which was inherited by Bharata, son of Rishabha according to Jaina accounts. This area came to be known after him as Bharatavarsha. Two stages are traceable in the evolution of the Puranic geographical accounts. Markanedya Purana devotes two separate chapters to the geography of what is called Bharatavarsha. The first describes Bha...