Terrestrial Locations / References

The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (or Bhāgavata Purāṇa) spans a vast cosmic and earthly narrative, and many places are mentioned within its verses. Here are some notable places mentioned in the Bhāgavatam and their corresponding current or believed locations:

• Naimiṣāraṇya: A sacred forest where the Bhāgavatam was narrated by Sūta Gosvāmī to the assembled sages. It's believed to be located near modern-day Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh, India.

• Mathurā and Vrindāvana: The birthplace of Lord Krishna and the site of his early pastimes, respectively. Both are located in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India.

• Dvārakā: The city established by Lord Krishna after leaving Vrindāvana. Its ruins are believed to be submerged off the coast of modern-day Dwarka in Gujarat, India.

• Kurukṣetra: The battlefield where the Mahābhārata war took place and where Krishna spoke the Bhagavad Gītā to Arjuna. It's located in Haryana, India.

• Hastināpura: The capital city of the Kuru dynasty, where much of the Mahābhārata's narrative unfolds. It's believed to be near present-day Delhi.

• Mount Meru: A sacred mountain considered to be the center of all physical, metaphysical, and spiritual universes in Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist cosmology. It's often identified with the Himalayas, but its precise location is considered more allegorical or mythical than geographical.

• Badarikāśrama: The hermitage of Nara-Nārāyaṇa and later the place where Vyāsa wrote the Bhāgavatam. It's identified with the Badrinath Temple in Uttarakhand, India.

• Kāśī (or Varanasi): One of the oldest and holiest cities in India, located in Uttar Pradesh.

• Haridvāra (or Haridwar): A major pilgrimage center located in Uttarakhand, India, where the Ganges River exits the Himalayan foothills.

• Prayāga (or Allahabad/Prayagraj): A historic and sacred city in Uttar Pradesh, India, known for the confluence (Triveni Sangam) of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Sarasvati rivers.

• Ayodhyā: The birthplace of Lord Rama. Located in Uttar Pradesh, India.

• Śālagrāma: A place known for the naturally occurring black stones (shilas) considered sacred and symbolic representations of Lord Vishnu. These stones are found in the Gandaki River in Nepal.

• Gokula: The place where infant Krishna was raised by his foster parents Yashoda and Nanda. It's near Mathurā in Uttar Pradesh, India.