Question: I once heard a reference that Srila Prabhupada said that in the Vedic age the area from India, up to the Caspian Sea, was known as Bhu Swarga, or heaven on earth.
This was because of vast gardens and luscious fruit production.
I also heard that it was said that Kasyapa Muni had his asrama on the Caspian Sea.
Is there any reference for this understanding?
Answer by Romapada Swami: So people, the advanced people, they were Aryans, arya. Aryans means advanced. So the Indo-European stock, they are also Aryans. They came from Central India, Central Asia, and some of them went to Indian side. That is the history. The Caspian, Caspian Sea, that was the place of Kasyapa Muni. Kasyapa. From Kasyapa the Caspian has come. Just like formerly the capital of Afghanistan was known as Gandhar. Now it has become Kandahar. So by historical references, it will be ascertained that the whole, this planet was known as Bharatavarsa.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.45 — Los Angeles, May 7, 1973
Prabhupada: Formerly, from Kashmir to central Asia, it was known as Bhu-svarga, especially Kashmir, Bhu-svarga.
Dayananda: Heaven on earth.
Prabhupada: Yes, heaven on the earthly planet.
Parivrajakacarya: We noticed that in one of the Srimad-Bhagavatams you mentioned that Kardama Muni had his asrama, Kasyapa Muni I mean, on the shore of the Caspian Sea, which is just an hour from here by plane-it’s ninety kilometers.
Prabhupada: Yes, yes, Caspian Sea.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Room Conversation — August 8, 1976, Tehran
