Overview
Theravāda cosmology arranges a single complete world system (Cakkavāḷa) horizontally around the central axis of Mount Sineru. In the vast ocean surrounding this central peak lie four immense island-continents (Dīpā), situated at the four cardinal compass directions, each inhabited by distinct types of human beings.
The List
- Jambudīpa - The Southern Continent: Shaped like a chariot, this is our physical world. It is a harsh realm of mixed pleasure and pain, unique because its inhabitants possess high spiritual courage, allowing fully awakened Buddhas to arise exclusively here.
- Pubbavideha - The Eastern Continent: A vast, peaceful continent inhabited by humans with semi-circular faces who enjoy fixed lifespans and a tranquil, agrarian existence.
- Aparagoyāna - The Western Continent: A massive continent situated in the western ocean, inhabited by humans with round faces who utilize unique natural resources.
- Uttarakuru - The Northern Continent: The most comfortable, fortunate realm of human existence. Inhabitants possess square faces, require no labor as food grows automatically via wish-fulfilling trees, and have fixed lifespans of a thousand years. However, they cannot realize the Dhamma because they lack a sense of suffering.
Textual References
- Canonical: Mahāsamaya Sutta (DN 20) – The deities and kings ruling over these four quadrants arrive to pay homage to the Buddha.