Kuru-varṣa

One of the nine land divisions (varṣas) of Jambūdvīpa, situated to the North of Mount Meru, marked by Śṛṅgavān mountain range in the South and Salt Water Ocean in the North.

Synonyms
Uttarakuru-varṣa

Disambiguation
The part of Jambūdvīpa to the north of Nīla mountains, consisting of Kuru-varṣa, Hiraṇmayaa and Ramyaka varṣas, is sometimes combinedly also called Kuru-varṣa or, alternatively, the northern half of Jambūdvīpa. Thus, Bhārata (including, in this context, Bhārata, Kimpuruṣa and Hari varṣas), Kuru (including, in this context, Kuru-varṣa, Hiraṇmaya and Ramyaka varṣas), Ketumāla and Bhadrāśva varṣas are described as 4 petals of Jambūdvīpa with Mount Meru as its pericarp.

Shape
Being the northernmost part of the circular Jambūdvīpa, bound by straight Śṛṅgavān mountain range on one side, Kuru-varṣa is bow-shaped.

North to South
9,000 yojanas

East to West
From one side of the Jambūdvīpa island to another.

Overall Atmosphere
In Kuru-varṣa there are many beautiful gardens filled with seasonal fruits and flowers. There are many decorated hermitages. Between the boundary mountains demarcating the borders of the 9 varṣas lie great lakes of pure water filled with lotus flowers and aquatic birds, surrounded by humming bees.

Earthly Heavens
As most regions on Bhū-maṇḍala, Kuru-varṣa is a heavenly region on Earth (bhauma-svarga) where people returning from heavenly planets enjoy the remaining results of their pious activities.

Inhabitants
People of Kuru-varṣa live approximately ten thousand years as per our present earthly calculation. This number is comparable to life duration in Bhārata-varṣa during Tretā-yuga. The inhabitants of Kuru-varṣa are almost like demigods, possessing strong, youthful bodies that have a great capacity for sensual enjoyment. Women conceive children only during the last year of their life. The inhabitants are important leaders among the demigods and are always attended by their servants who constantly supply them and their wives with sandalwood pulp and flower garlands. Attracted by the opposite sex, they enjoy life in gardens alongside the lakes. But despite many opportunities for sense enjoyement, the inhabitants of Kuru-varṣa do not forget their eternal position as servants of the Supreme Lord, and they worship Him in His Deity forms.

Inhabitants Worship the Lord
In Uttarakuru-varṣa, the Supreme Lord resides in His incarnation as Varāha (boar). Mother Earth and the other inhabitants of the land worship Him in firm devotion by chanting mantras from the Upaniṣads. Their prayers are described in detail in Śrīmad Bhāgavatam Canto 5, Chapter 18, verses 35-39