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## Chapter 12
## Harivansha Purana
### [6] Location of the Composition of Harivansha
The composition of the Harivansha Purana began in Vardhamanpur and ended in the Shanti Nath Jinalaya of Dostatika. This Vardhamanpur appears to be the famous city of 'Vadhavan' in Saurashtra, as this assumption is strengthened by considering the geographical situation described in the Harivansha Purana at that time.
In the 52nd and 53rd verses of the 66th chapter of the Harivansha Purana, it is stated that in the year 705 of the Saka era, when Indraayudh ruled the north, Shrivallabh, the son of Krishna, ruled the south, Vatsaraj, the king of Avanti, ruled the east, and the valiant Jayavaraha, the protector of the Saurashtra region, ruled the west, this text was first begun in the Parsva Jinalaya of Vardhamanpur, which was known as Nannaraj Vasatika, and was filled with abundant wealth, either from good fortune or from gold. Later, it was composed in the peaceful home of Shanti Jinendra, located there, which was adorned with excellent worship produced by the people of Dostatika.
On the way from Vadhavan to Girinagar, there is a place called 'Dottaddi', which is the same as 'Dostatika'. In the ancient Gurjar-Kavya Sangraha (Gayaqwad Series), the Amul-created Charcharika has been published, which describes the journey of a traveler to Girinar. This traveler first reaches Vadhavan. Then, in sequence, he reaches Ranndulhai, Sahajigpur, Gangilpur, and Lakhmighru. Then, after reaching the difficult Dottaddi, he crosses many rivers and mountains and reaches Karivandial. He camps in Karivandial and Anantpur and rests in Bhalan. From there, he begins to see the high Girinar mountain. This difficult Dottaddi is the same as Dostatika.
Just as Jinaseenacharya described Vardhamanpur (Vadhavan) as being filled with abundant wealth due to many good fortunes, similarly, Harishena, the author of the Harishena Katha Kosh, also described it as 'Kartasvara-पूर्णजनाधिवास'. Both Kartasvara and Kalyan are indicative of gold, which proves that the city was extremely prosperous, and its prosperity remained intact for a long period of 148 years, from Jinaseen to Harishena. Harishena completed the composition of his Katha Kosh in this same Vardhamanpur (Vadhavan) in the year 853 of the Saka era (989 of the Vikram Samvat).
Although Jinaseen belonged to the Punnat Sangha, and the name Punnat refers to Karnataka, his arrival in Saurashtra is justified due to his love for travel. It is not surprising that the monks of the Punnat Sangha traveled to this region with the intention of paying homage to the holy site of Girinar mountain. Jinaseen wrote in his Guru Parampara that Amitasen was the leader of the Punnat Gan and a Shatavarpjivi. This suggests that this Sangha, under the leadership of Amitasen, left the Punnat-Karnataka region and traveled towards North India, and went to Saurashtra (Kathiawar) to pay homage to the holy land of Shri Girinar.
It is also necessary to consider the kings mentioned by Jinaseen in the four directions of Vardhamanpur:
1. In the seventh century of the Saka era, in the northwest direction, Indraayudh ruled, in the south, Shrivallabh, the son of Krishna, ruled. In the east, the glorious king Vatsaraj, the king of Avanti, ruled, and in the west, the valiant Jayavaraha, the protector of the brave, ruled.
52. In Vardhamanpur, which was filled with abundant wealth due to many good fortunes, the Parsva Jinalaya, known as Nannaraj Vasatika, was well-maintained.
53. Later, in the peaceful home of Shanti Jinendra, which was adorned with excellent worship produced by the people of Dostatika, the lineage of the Haris was composed.