India As Described In Early Texts Of Buddhism and Jainism

Author(s): Bimla Charn Law
Publisher: Bimlacharan Law

Page 11

CICOGRAPHY
rach containing several smaller ones. The Buclidhists as well as others in India treat Sineri as an emblem of long duration. Both its conception and closcription all'* semiastronomical, semi-terrestrial, and on the wholes, mythical in their origin and character.
We get a slight roulistic touch in the Puranas that locate the Sumeru Mountain with it. altitude of one hundroul thousanı yojanas at i central region of slāvstavarşa, the country, which, according to them, stanrls in the nichelle of the nine* varşas of Jambulvijia. "To the sonth of Ilāvịtavarna is the Nişadha mountain range, and to the south of it is Harivabil, the country which lies just to the north of Bhāratavarşa. In between the tuin is the Himalaya mountain with the Hemikūtil mrvitit north of it. The Himalayan range extends east and west over a distance of about 1,000 yojanas, Thc topography of this range as it stins in relation to Bhāratavarşa may be picturesquels ropresentert by the shape of a bow with its string to the south (Himaván uttarenāsya kārmukasyon yathā gruaḥ). The Jumbulirn-qutunulli, which, like the Puranas, lorates Harivitrigail to
1 Anqutturu, iv, p. 1001.; NILANtaruīzh 17, i, p. 119; Prvudet. inagga, p. 208; Parur threjolika, II, pp. 113, 483; 12xynunu, p. 217.
2 Soven, according to Jumbrulīun junnutti. 8 Bhagavata Purana, Dvipavarga-varnana->kunitha, Ch. 18.