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South East Asia and Indian Ocean in Jaina Literature
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all the countries of South East Asia there are hundreds of Hindu temples, Mathas, Buddhist Vaihāras, stūpas and caityas erected by Indian kings and trades and inscriptions inscribed in Sanskrit and Prakrit languages. In a collective way, these countries are included into Greater India..
The Pāli Text Niddesa submits a list of countries where the Indian trades used to visit for the purpose of earning the wealth. They wee as follows: Gumba, Takkola, Takkasilā, Kālamukha, Maranapāra, Vesunga, Verapatha, Jāvā, Tamalī, Banga, Elavaddhana, Suvannakūța, Suvannabhūmī, Tambapaņņi, Suppāra, Bharukaccha, Surattha, Anganeka, Gangana, Paramagangana, Yona, Paramayona, Allasanda, Marukantāra, Jannupatha, Ajapatha, Mendhapatha, Sankupatha, Chattapatha, Vamsapatha, Sakunapatha, Musikapatha, Daripatha and Vetttadhārā. The geographical position of some of the places or countries cannot be decided. Allasanda (Alexendria), Yona (Yavana) etc. are situated in the far West and Bharukaccha and Suppāra (Sopārā) in the Western India. Suvarnabhūmī was in South East Asia. Likewise, Takkola, Jāvā, Suvannakūta and Banga etc. were also situated in the South East of India.
We are aware of the fact that Samrāt Ashok sent Soņa and Uttarā to Suvarnabhūmī for propagation of Buddhism. Some more Ācāryas also paid a visit to Svarnadvīpa in later period. Jain, Buddhist and Vedic Texts mention the name of Svarṇabhūmī which indicates that the ancient Indian thinkers were acquainted with Svarṇabhūmī and other South East Asian countries.
The territory of Svarnabhūmī is still unknown. But our ancient Texts refer to the names of those countries and Dvīpas which are situated in the South Asia and whose geographical position could be decided in a better way.
In this connection, the following verses may be mentioned were India is said to be divided into nine parts:
Bhāratasyāsya varşasya nava bhedān vivodha me Samudrāntaritā jneyāste tvagamyāḥ parasparam. Indradvīpaḥ kaserūmān tāmraparnī gabhastimān.
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