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A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAN
Brahmanical sources the Madhyadeśa extended from the Himalayas to the Vindhyas and from Vinaśana to Prayāga. The eastern boundary expanded with the passage of time and the Divyāvadāna includes Pundavardhana (north Bengal) also in the Madhyadeśa (HGAI, p. 12-13).
Mayūramāla:- It is said to be a place to which belonged the Mlechas such as the Kirātas and the Sabaras occupying the transHimalayan region (27.6). Mayūra is identified with Māyāpuri or Hardwar (GD, p. 129).
Maheswaranagara :- It is said to be situated on the northern bank of the river Narmadā. Its Sahasrakirana was subdued and captured by Rāvana (10.34). It is the same as Māhismatīnagari which was the capital of south Avanti. It is identified with the modern Mandhāta region of Malwa (HGAI, p. 322).
Ritthapura=Aristapura (PCR, 20.14):-It was one of the ancient capitals (20.9; See Aristapura).
Lokapura (11.62): The mother of Nārada renounced the Tāpasa dharma and became a Jaina nun at this place. It can be identified with Chanda in the Madhya Pradesha (GD, p. 115).
Vadanagara (105.88) = Nyagrodhanagara (PCR, 108.139) located in the vicinity of the Vindhya forest) :-It can be identified with Anandapura in north Gujerat, 70 miles south of Sidhpur (JASG, p. 18; HGAI, p. 300).
Varunapura :-It was under the rule of Vidyadhara Indra. Its ruler was Varuna, the Lokapāla of the western region (16.17; 19.19; 7.47). It is called as Rasātalapura also (19.8). Salilarāja is another name of Baruna and the Salilarāja Tirtha of the MB. and Padma. Pu. has been identified with the place where the Indus falls into the ocean (GD, p. 175).
Viñjhatthali (73.7) :-It has been referred to along with the Himagiri. Rāvana exclaims that he is the master of the whole world including the Himagiri and the Vindhyasthali. Thus the reference is to the region of the Vindhya system of mountains, which was the abode of the Vidyādharas and Rāvana had brought them all under his subjugation.
Viyabbhanayara (Vidagdhanagara-PCR) :-It fell on the route from Rathanūpura to Saketa (30.13) It may be probably in the Vindhya region. It is probably Vidarbhanagara or Kundinapura, the ancient capital of Vidarbha (GD, p. 108).