Akhyanakmanikosha

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

Page 66

Geographical and Historical Data in AMKV.
(Kanci), Campā, the ancient capital of Anga near modern Bhagalpur, Takşasila (Taxilā ), Dvārakåvati or Bäravai (Dvärakā ), Bharukachcha (Broach ), Pandumahura (Madura ) and Mahură (Mathura). Rāyagiha (Rājagțha, Rajgir), Larkā (of Rāma story), Vesäli (Vaisali inodern Basärh), Savatthi (Srävasti, modern Sahet-Mahet), Gayapura (Gajpura ) which is the same as Hatthināura (Hastināpura, near Delhi), Padaliputta ( Pataliputra, Patnn), Kosambi (Kausambi, modern Kosam near Allahabad), Tāmalitti (Tamralipti, modern Tâmluk in Bengal), Kampillapura (Kampilyapura, modern Kampil in Farukhābād district, U. P.), Kancaņaura (Kancanpura, probably modern Bhuvanesvara in Orissa).' Dasaura (Dasapura, modern Mandsor), Kusumapura (same as Pataliputra ). Kosalapuri (possibly Säkeya ), Säkea or Säkeya (Säketa, once capital of northern Kośala ),s Sopāraya (Sürpāraka, modern Sopārā near Bombay), Hatthikappapura (also known as Hatthakapa in Jaina literature, generally identified with Hathab near Bhavnagar in Gujarat State ),Kāyandi (or Kägandi, Kākandi in Jain literature, identified with Kākan in Monghyr district ), and Girinayara (Girinagara, Jūnāgadh near Girnār ) are some of the places well known in older Jaina literature. Siriura is Sripura in the Raipur district, Madhya Pradesh, Valahi is Valabhi (modern Valã in Saurāştra, once capital of Maitrakas); Săliggāma or Saligrāma, known to Av. Cū., part 2, p. 94, was in Magadha, near Gobbara gāma, but cannot be identified now. Ksitipratistha is another place which is not inentified. As noted by Jaina, J. C., sometimes it is identified with Poyanapura. Poyanapura or Potanapura would seem to be in the North, being in the Bahalidesa according to AMKV., p. 50, or is it Rohida in Rajasthān? Rohedaya is interesting and may be Rohitaka ( modern Rohtak ) of Yaudheyas. Padmavati, one of the capital of the Nāgas is modern Pawaya in the Gwalior district; Mihilā (Mithila ) was capital of ancient Videha Janapada, and is identified with modern Janakapura in Nepal border. It is well known to ancient literature. Tumbavana is modern Tumain of the old Gwalior State, Vaddhamāņa may be modern Vaşhavāna since this is a work of 11th century, in older Jaina accounts of Mahāvira's itinerary, Varddhamana has to be identified with Burdwan. Mattiyāvayā or Mattiyāvai is ancient Mșttikävati, referred to in Jaina texts as capital of Dasaņņa (Daśārņa) country. According to Harivamsa Purāņa, I. 36.15, it was situated on the Narmada river.' Binnäyada or Bennāyada, according to Av. Cü., p. 547, was situated on the bank of the river Bennā.& According to a later Jaina writer it was a centre of trade and the merchants landed here with various merchandise while returning from Parasaküla. Obviously this writer possibly could not identify the place. In the Āv. Cūrni, p. 546, it is said that Seņiya had visited this city when he was a prince. The AMKV. also refers to the incident of Seniya marrying Sunanda in Bennāyada. B. C. Law, writing on Bennakața states: “this district comprised the territory round the modern village called Beņi, 25 miles to the east of Kosambă in the Gondia tahsil of the Bhander district."10 None of the references, of the AMKV., to this ancient big city suggest that it was a port where merchandise from Pārasaküla (or any other place) was brought by sea-route. Identification of the place awaits further exploration.11
1. See, Law, B. C., op. cit., pp. 124 ff. 2. Kancaņapura is referred in Ogha-Niryukti-Bhāsya, 30, p. 20a and discussed by J. C. Jaina, op. cit., p. 293. He
identifies it with Bhuvaneswar in Kalinga. Our AMKV. is not explicit whether Kancanapura was in Kaliaga or
not, and hence it may be any town of this name, real or mythical. 3. See, Law, B. C., op. cit., pp. 122-123. 4. Jaina, J. C., op. cit., p. 287; Law, B. C. op. cit., 284 under Hastavapra. 5. Also see, Jaina, J. C., op. cit., p. 297. 6. See also, Law, B. C, op. cit., p. 325. 7. See, J. C. Jaina, op. cit., p. 313. 8. Anuyogadvārasútra, p. 137. 9. Uttarādhyayana Țika, p. 64. 10. B. C. Law, op. cit., p. 310; Epigraphia Indica, vol. XXII. p. 170.
For another identification, see, Ratilal Mehta, Pre-Buddhist India pp. 413-14. Bhennākata is also referred to in Buddhist literature.