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Kavyanusasand
where a sandy plain intervenes between the desert and the foot of Mount Abu. "
The province includes two parts, Mainland Gujarata or Gurjjararashtra and Peninsular Gujarāta the Saurashtra of ancient, the Kathiawar of modern history. To a total area of about 72,000 square miles Mainland Gujarata with a length from north to south of about 280 miles and a breadth from east to west varying from 50 to 150 miles contributes 45,000 square miles; and Peninsular Gujarāta with a greatest length from north to south of 155 miles and from east to west of 200 miles contributes about 27,000 miles. " (Bombay Gazetter Vol. 1; p. 1).
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The use of the name of Gurjaratra, Gujarata or Gurjaradeṣa for this whole geographical portion is, comparatively, modern. As we shall see further on the word Gurjjara itself is found first in the Harshacharita of Bana (seventh century A. D.). I shall discuss this point when we come to describe Bhinnamala. I may be excused for the anachronism of using the name Gujarata before it actually came into use. It must not, however, be supposed that this province had no important history before it was known as Gujarāta.
In ancient times, different parts of Gujarata had their own names. The northern part the Mainland Gujarata was known as Anartta; the southern part as Lata which is referred to in older Samskṛt literature as Aparanta; and the Peninsular Gujarāta was known as Saurashtra or Surashtra or Surashtra. The boundaries of these districts were often changing, so it is not possible to delimit them exactly. In between Anartta
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