Akhyanakmanikosha

Author(s): Nemichandrasuri, Punyavijay, Dalsukh Malvania, Vasudev S Agarwal
Publisher: Prakrit Text Society Ahmedabad

Page 65

10
Geographical and Historical Data in AMKV.
(Anga, with Campā as its capital), Kalinga, Videbā (Vedeha), Käsi, Kosala, Vaccha (Vatsa with Kaušāmbi as capital). Pancāla (Pāñcāla with Kampillapura as capital ), Gandhāra (Gāndhāra ), Kuru (with Gayapura-Gajapura as capital) are well-known countries, most of them ancient Janapadas, known to Jaina canonical literature. Kusattå is identified by J. C. Jaina with the country Kusåvatta (with Soriya pura, on the bank of the Yamunā, as its capital) which is the country around Suryapura in Agra district.' Keyai of Jaina canonical literature, is according to J. C. Jaina, the same as Kekaya and was situated at the base of Nepal, to the north-east of Srāvasti which again is different from Kekaya in the North.: The Capital of Keyai is Seyaviya in Jaina canons, as also in AMKV. This Seyaviya was visited by Mahāvira, who having crossed the Ganges proceeded to Surabhipura from here. Seyaviya is identified with Setavya of the Buddhists. Our text also refers to Kunkaņa (Konkaņa ), Nepāla, Medapåță ( Mevăd ), Surattha and Soraţtha ( Saurāştra, Kathiāvād ), Varādaga ( = Varāda, Berar ), Viyabbha ( Vidarbha, which is the same as Varādaga )' and Lāda which is not Ladha of Jaina canons, but Laţa in W. India, Gujarat, in which Bharuyaccha (Bharukaccha, Broach ) is situated. Madhyadeśa of course is the country extending from the Himalayas in the north, to the Vindhya in the south and from vinaśana (i. e. where Sarasvati disappears in the west to Prayaga in the east." AMKV. says that in this Madhyadeśa was situated the city called Rahamaddaņa (Rathamarddana ) 8 Tankaņa-deśa is referred to in the Sútrakstänga, 3.3. 18 and the Bhagavati, 3.2. It is said that Tarikaņa mlecchas lived in Uttarapatha and went to Dakşiņāpatha for trade, taking with them gold, ivory and other saleable commodities. The Av. Cūrni, p. 120, says that since they did not follow the language of other traders, they laid their goods in piles, placed their hands above them and lifted the hands only when they got a suitable price. Tarkaņa is mentioned in the Bșhatkathākośa and the Vasudevahindi account of Cărudatta. The Tarkaņa-people may be identified with the Tangaņas, a mountain tribe often mentioned in the Mababhārata.
In one of his previous births, Nala is said to have been born, in Poyanapura in the Bahalidesa; as the son of Abhira Dhammilābha and Renuka. Now the Āv. Cũ. refers to Takşašila as capital of Bahali. It is said that this was a non-Aryan country and maidservants were brought from here.10 In the Āv. Nir., 11 Bahali is mentioned along with Adamba, Illa, Jonaga, Pallava, etc. Rşabhanātha is said to have visited these countries. Bahali may be identified with Vālhika-deśa, 1Balkh in modern Afghanistan.
Padma-vişaya with its Nandanapura (p. 109), or Sri-kantha-deśa with Jayantinagari cannot be identified. In the country of Sirimangala (Srimangala ) was the city of Sarkhapura having big gopura. A Sankhapura is mentioned in Uttarādhyayana Tīkā, 4, p. 83a, where prince Agadadatta is said to have proceeded to Väräņasi from Sankhapura. Equally unidentifiable is Devanandi-deśa (p. 335 ).
The AMKV, mentions several capital cities, towns, villages and small settlements (sanniveśa ). Of these, Aujjha ( Ayodhyā ), Ujjayani or Ujjeni, Paitthāņa (Pratişthānapura, modern Paithaņa ) Kanci
1. See, J. C. Jaina, India As Depicted in Jaina canonical Literature, pp. 250 ff. 2. Ibid., pp. 304, 337. Soriyapura is identified by Moti Chandra with Soron. 3. Ibid., p. 295.
Law, B. C., op. cit., p. 126. 5. Note Saurastra-Surattha, Sorattha and Soratha. Probably the name Soratha had already become current in local
dialect and this Sorattha was used to give it a Prākst appearance.
The AMKV. gives Kundināpuri as capital of Viyabbhã on p. 46 and Kupdiņinayari as capital of Varadaga on p. 72. 7. According to Manusmști, 11. 21. 8. Not identifiable. It is referred to in Nayadh., 1. 16, and in Kathäkosa (Tawney's ed.), p. 98. 9. Av. Cū. p. 180. 10. Näyä., 1. 1. 11. Āv. Nir, v. 336. 12. Law, B. C., op. cit., p. 133.