Four rivers
four rivers
[四河] (Jpn shi-ga )
Also, four great rivers. In the ancient Indian worldview, the four rivers in Jambudvipa that originate from Anavatapta (Heat-Free) Lake: the Ganga River, the Sindhu River, the Vakshu River, and the Shita River. The Ganga River and the Sindhu River are identified respectively as the Ganges River and the Indus River. As for the identity of the other two rivers, opinions differ, but generally the Vakshu River is presumed to be the Amu Darya River flowing into the Aral Sea, and the Shita River, the Syr Darya River, also flowing into the Aral Sea. According to Buddhist texts, the Ganga, Sindhu, Vakshu, and Shita rivers flow respectively from a silver ox's mouth on the eastern side of Anavatapta Lake, a gold elephant's mouth on the southern side, an emerald horse's mouth on the western side, and a crystal lion's mouth on the northern side. These four rivers flow respectively eastward, southward, westward, and northward into the ocean.
