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GEOGRAPHICAL PLACES, PEOPLES AND TRIBES
509
Rajagļha :-Airakucchi himself got his training in archery at Rajagļha (25.18). It is called as Kuśāgranagara (2.98), Rajapura (2.8) and Magadhapura also (82.46). It was the capital of Magadha country (2.1). It is identified with the present Rajagir in south Bihar. 1 King Sreņika is referred to as the ruler of Magadha country (2.15). He was a lay devotee of Lord Mahāvīra (2.48-49) who spent 14 rainy seasons at Rājagsha”.
Mithila :-Rāma married Sīta who was the daughter of Janaka, the ruler of Mithila (28.95). Subhadrā, the daughter of Kanaka, brother of Janaka was married to Bharata (28.132). It was the ancient capital of Videha country (North Bihar). It is identified with modern Janakapura, a small town within the border of Nepal. Prof. Rhys Davids locates it 35 miles to the north west of Vaiśāli".
Route of Rama's Journey in Exile: The description of the route of Rāma's journey shows that the author of the PCV had some scientific knowledge of the geographical places of north and south India.
Păriyātra :-Rama is said to have travelled toward the west from Sāketa (dvaradisar vaccantā 32. 7) and entered the forest of Pāriyātra (Patta.........adavim ciya Pariyattassa 32.10). The Pāripatra or Pariyātra (mountainous region) is identified by Prof. Pargiter with the modern Vindhya range which is situated west of Bhopal together with the Aravali hills. 4 Dr B. S. Upadhyaya also identifies it with the western part of the Vindhya range extending from the source of the Cambal and Betwa. It comprised the Aravali mountains and the belts of Rajputana including the Pathar range which is perhaps a contraction of Pāriyātra. According to Prof. Jayacandra Vidyalankara, the Pāriyātra region forms the part where all the rivers from the Parvati and Banas to Betwa take their rise.5 The PCV mentions that from Pariyātra Rāma went to the Citrakuța hill and entered the Avantideśa. Thus the place of Rāma's entry into the Pariyātra should be the region lying to the south of Bharatapura and to the north of the Banas river.
Gambhira:-When Rāma entered the Pariyātra forest, he saw the Gambhīrā river (Gambhira nāma nadi 32.11). He crossed it and
1. Ibid. p. 254. 2. Nayādhammakahāso, II, 10. 3. HGAI, p. 236. 4. HGAI, p. 20. 5. Vide. IK, p. 9.
