Development And Impact Of Jainism In India And Abroad

Author(s): Gunvant Barvalia
Publisher: Arham Spiritual Center

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DEVELOPMENT AND IMPACT OF JAINISM IN ASIA AND ASIAN DWIPA
in Bihar. It may be a name of Kalinjar hill. The kuvalayamala of Udyotanasuri mentions the name of Vijaya or Vijayapuri10 where the different idioms of speech were spoken by the shopkeepers in the market place. It appears a big town where merchants from all over the country displayed their goods. The situation of Vijayapuri is given as South Sea coast (Dahina-Samudda-vela). According to Dr. Vasudevasaran Agrawal, it was actually situated on the bank of Krishna a few miles above the sea coast up to point the river was navigable to big ships which landed on docks. It was the same as Nagarjun kunda, the famous capital of Iksvaku kings as stated in their inscriptions. It seems to be a historical fact that the monument of Vijayapuri stood intact and the place enjoyed wide celebrity. The leader of the caravan in the kuvalayamala was one Vaisravanadatta. There follows a description of the attack on the Sartha and its plunder by wild Bhillas.
Dr. A. N. Upadhye in his introduction to the Kuvalayamala says that in the South of India there are some towns with their names beginning with Vijaya, such as Vijayapur, Vijayanagara, Vijayanti; and some of them pretty ancient. It is located on the Western Coast, as it is reached after crossing the Sahyadri, secondly, it is situated right on the sea-shore; and thirdly, its southern wall was washed by the waves of the ocean.11 He is therefore of view that it may be identified with Vijayadurga in Ratnagiri district, one of the best Konkan ports. About the identification Vijayanti (mentioned in the Kadamba copper plates) and Jayantipur (of the Vijayanagar grant), he mentions a difference of opinion. Some like them to be Banavasi, in the South Kanara District, while R.G. Bhandarkar proposes Vijayadurga. Udyotnasuri distinguishes Jayanti from Vijaya. The environment of Vijaya and the route to it from Ayodhya, as stated by him in Kuvalayamala, very well suit the present day Vijayadurga which was included in the Vijayapur territory this may be somewhat different from Vijayanagar established in 1336 A.D. by Haribhar and Bukka, the two brothers who fought out with Bahumani Sulatanas. SUVARNADVIPA OR SVARNABHUMI AND OTHER DVIPAS
From Burma to Malaya region was called Svarnabhumi and its eastern region (Combodia, Laos, Vietnam, Sumatra, Java, Bali Bornio etc.) was named, as Svarnadvipa. It appears that South East Asia was named as Svarnabhumi or Svarnadvipa. The same has been referred by Talmi as Chryse Chora. It is also supported by Alberuni. This region was famous for gold and other precious metal and therefore its name Svarnadvipa or Svarnabhumi is quite meaningful. The earliest reference to his region is found in connection with trade. The stories of sea-traders visiting to Svarnabhumi are occurred in the Kathasaritsagara, Brhatkathamanjari and Brahatkathaslokasangraha.
The Brahatkathaslokasangraha refers to a story of a sea-trader named Acera who visits with his companions to Svarnabhumi in search of gold. They had to face some misfortunes in reaching the destination. The mountain route was very much narrow (Ajapatha) and covered with creepers (Vetrapatha). Somehow they could reach to the bank of a river which was covered with golden sand. This story indicates the spirit of Sea-traders.
The Kathasaritsagara 12 also mentions a number of stories of sea-traders. Accordingly; Samudrasutra starts his sea-voyage and reached to Kalashapur seaport of Svarnabhumi. The cargo
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