India As Described In Early Texts Of Buddhism and Jainism

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

Page 25

GEOGRAPHY
1 17 Vinaganaprayāgayoḥ Gangā-Yamunayońca
antaram Antaravedi.' 1
"To the east of Benares is the Eastern India. To the south of Māhismati is the Deccan. To the west of Devasabhā is the Western India. To the north (bettor, north-west) is the Northern (better, North-western) India. And the tract lying between Vinasana and Prayāga and between the Ganges and the Jumna is the Inland (same as Midland or Middle country of other texts).'
Cunningham elucidates the geographical significance of Hiuen Tsang's 'Five Indies' in the following manner:
(1) Northern India comprises the Punjab proper including Kashmir and the adjoining hill States with the whole of eastern Afghanistan beyond the Indus and the present Cis-Sutlej States to the west of the Saraswati river;
(2) Western India, Sind and Western Rajputana with Cutch and Gujrat and a portion of the adjoining coast on the lower course of Narmadā river;
(3) Central India, the whole of the Gangetic provinces from. Thaneswar to the head of the Delta and from the Himalayan mountains to the banks of the Narmadā;
Kārya-mimõthsā, p 93.