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A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAM
Provinces1. The PCV mentions them as occupying the region falling to the south of Narmada. It seems that their activities were spread over the south-west region of Narsimhapura also. Thus the Kakas and Kakonadas or Kāgonandas seem to be identical people.
Tapi:-Proceeding further Rama crosses the Vindhya forest and reaches the region where the river Tapi was flowing (Vinjham aikkameūņa pāviyā visayaṁ majjheņa vahai Tavi 85.1). The Tapi river is well-known. It flows in the south along the Satpura hills.
Arunagrama:-Rama further goes to Arunagrama (35.5) but there he is insulted by Brahmin Kapila, hence he proceeds further and sojourns in the jungle. (Not indentified).
Ramapuri:-There in the jungle a Yakṣa is said to have conjured up Ramapuri for the temporary sojourn of Rama (35.36). Kālidāsa mentions that a Yakṣa sent his message from Ramagiri. He also states that Ramagiri was rendered sacred by Rama and Sita'. Therefore in our opinion Ramapuri of the PCV can be identified with Ramtek (Ramagiri) of Nagpur district, situated 24 miles north of Nagpur (HGAI p. 328). That place is at a distance from the Tapti and PCV does not mention that the Tapti was crossed by Rama. It says that it flowed in that region nearby (Majjheņa vahai) and it may mean the basin of the Tapti.
Vijayapura:-Proceeding further Rama reaches Vijayapura (36.7). Lakṣmana here marries the princess Vanamālā, daughter of king Mahidhara of that town. The PCR (36.11) calls it Vaijayantapura. The VR (2.9.12) says that Vaijayantapura was situated in the south towards the Dandakaranya (Daṇḍakanprati). One Vijayapuri is said to have existed in the valley of the Nagarjunīkoṇḍa hills. It was the capital of the Ikṣvākus of the far south. Other Vijayanti, the capital of Kadambas, is identified with Vanavāsī in the Kannara district. But both the places fall at a very great distance from Rama's immediate journey. The PCS (29. 1) mentions its name as Jivantapura and further states that Rama leaves it behind and reaches the river Godavari (Golā pai 31. 3. 2). Thus it indicates that Vijayapura was situated to the north of Godavari.
Nandyavartapura:-While staying at Vijayapura, Rāma receives news of the attack of Mahārāja Ativīrya on Bharata, the former trying
1. TAI, p.95.
2. See IK, p. 10.
3. VGA, p. 60.
4. Ibid. p. 405.
