Having established Meru as the equator, Śuka now builds around it a spherical coordinate system of north-south latitudes and east-west longitudes.

He describes three primary latitude circles proceeding north and three proceeding south from the equator, each one smaller than the previous (uttara uttara dairghya hrasanti). He describes the longitudes as similar circles to the east and west, which maintain uniform size (ānīla-niṣadhāyatau).

He says the spaces enclosed by latitudes and longitudes gets smaller (in both directions, N-S & E-W) the further it is north or south of the equator. (prāk-āyatā ubhayataḥ kṣāroda avadhayaḥ).

Northern Latitudes

The first circle north of the equator is Nīla (lit. “darkened”) – suggesting it is the Tropic of Cancer, beyond which the “brightness” of days diminishes. The area contained by this latitude is Ramyaka (lit. “nightly enjoyment”) – suggesting that life is pleasant in this area, and the nights are particularly nice.

The next circle northward is Śveta (lit. “white”). It contains the area called Hiraṇmaya (“lustrous”). This suggests that snow can form in this area, but summers can also be hot. 

The northernmost, smallest circle is Śṛṇgavan (lit. “the peak”). It contains an area called Kuru (lit. “curled” or “not attractive”). This suggests it is the northern arctic circle, which contains the north pole (“the peak” of the sphere) and within which north “curls” into south.

Southern Latitudes

The first circle south of the equator is Niṣadha (lit. “declining”) – suggesting that it is the Tropic of Capricorn. The area contained in it is Hari (lit. “bright”), suggesting that it is warm. 

Below it, the second circle is Hemakūṭa (lit. “Unseen world”). It contains the area called Kimpuruṣa (lit. “Any people?”). This suggests the area is sparsly populated. 

The southernmost, third circle is Himālaya (lit. “the home of ice”). It contains a region called Bhārata (lit. “the foundation”). This suggests it is the southern arctic circle, called “the foundation” because it is the “bottom” of the world.

West-East Longitudes

Śuka names only two circles. These rotate around the core, so they keep a uniform size and distance from it, unlike the latitudes. Their size is equivalent to the size of the equator, between Nīla and Niṣada (ānīla-niṣadhāyatau).

The western circle is Mālyavan (lit. “having flowers” or “having impurity”). It defines a zone called Ketumāla (lit. “dimming of stars”). The celestial luminaries (ketu) lose their brightness (māla) in this zone. 

The eastern circle is Gandhamādana (lit. “fragrant”,implying invogoration). It defines a zone called Bhadrāśva (lit. “Good/Healthy/Golden Horse”) – a reference to the sunrise. 

Smaller Units

Śuka says “two thousand” circles can be expanded within the three primary latitudes, following basic rules of spherical geometry (dvi-sahasraṁ pṛthava eka ekaśaḥ pūrvasmāt pūrvasmāt uttara uttara daśāṁśādhikāṁśena dairghya eva hrasanti). 

Two thousand longitudes can also be drawn. They are counted by their “rising” (dvi-sahasraṁ paprathatuḥ).

Celestial Projection

These circles can define areas on earth, but they also “extend infinitely upward” from the surface (ayuta-yojana utsedhā), creating a celestial coordinate system. Thus the coordinate system can and will  reference non-earthly as well as earthly locations.

NOTE: The Himālayas?

Names like Bhārata, Kuru, Kimpuruṣa, and Himālaya are used in classical Indian cartography, but those are not what Śuka describes here. In that system, Bhārata is India, Kuru is a section of northern India (not to the ultimate north). Kimpuruṣa is Tibet, further north than Kuru (not to the south of the equator and Kuru). As for the famous Himālaya, they are certainly large, but are significantly smaller than the circle Śuka described with their name, and they are north of the equator, not near the south pole, where he puts them.

Thus, the cartographical names are namesakes of cosmological directions, or wound up with similar names because they had some similar characteristics. For example, the Himālaya is full of glaciers, hence it too is the “Home of Ice.”

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 5.16.5~8