India As Described In Early Texts Of Buddhism and Jainism

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

Page 14

6 INDIA AS DESCRIBED IN EARLY TEXTS Jätaka mentions by name Manipabbata, Hingulapаbbata, Añjanapabbata, Sānupabbata, and Phaļikapabbata among the Himalayan peaks,1 none of which can now be satisfactorily identified. The Sutta-nipāta commentary speaks of some five hundred rivers, only ten of which were to be reckoned, according to the „Milinda, the rest having an intermittent
periodical flow. Of the ten rivers, the first a five, Gargā, Yamunā, Aciravatī, Sarabhū and Mahi that were honoured as the five great rivers (pañca mahānadiyo) constitutod the Gangos group, and the rest, Sindhu, Sarassati, Vottavati, Vitamsā and Candabhāgā, with the exception of the second, constitutod tho Sindhu group. Broadly speaking, the first five flowed from tho Jaina Mahāhimavanta, and the other five from the Lesser range.
The Kuņāla Jātaka draws our attention to two most delightful spots in the shape of rocky table-lands (silātala), one, called Suvaņņatala, on the east side of Himavanta, and the other, called Hingulatala, on the west side, the latter being sixty leagues in extent. Similarly the
1 Jataka, v, p. 415. 2 Paramatthajotika, II, p. 437. 8 Milinda, P. 114. 4 Of, Mārkandeya Purana, 57, 16-18
5 Angultara, 14, p. 101; Vin., il, p. 237; Samyutta, ii, p. 136 ; 1, p. 401.
Jotaka, v, p. 416.