India As Described In Early Texts Of Buddhism and Jainism

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

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INDIA, AS DESCRIBED IN DARLY TEXTS
the south of the first. It also speaks of seven divyagangās or celestial rivers: Nalini, Pāvani, Sarasvati, Jambu, Silā, Gangā and Sindhu.1 The origin of Gangā is traced to a lake called Bindusara, which is situated in the middle of three peaks, Kailāsa, Maināka and Hiranyaśțnga. The Jambudīva-pannatti connects the origin of Gangă with a flow through the castorn outlet of a great lake in the Lesser Himalayan range, called Mahāpadmahrada, and that of Sindhu with a flow through its western outlet. It speaks of a similar lake in the Greator Himalayan range. The doscription of the lako with four toranas or outlets is akin to the Buddhist account of the lake Anotattar, to which it refers the origin of the fivo grcat rivers flowing eastwards. Anotatta, too, is liko the Jaina Padmahrada, a lotus lake with four mukhas (outlets) on its four sides, from cach of which flows a river. Beginning from the east, the qutlets are called Sībamukha (the Lion faco), Hatthimukha (the Elephant face), Assamukha (the Horse face), and Usabhamukha (the Bull face). The four rivers that flow, according to the Jambudīva-paņņatti, from the four outlets of the Lotus lake are, Gangā, Rohitā, Sindhu and Harikāntā.
1 Mahābhārata, Bhiamaparva, 6.49, 60. 3 Ibid., 6.43, 44. 8 Papancasilani, ii, p. 686. * Jambudiva-pampatti, iv, 34, 35.