India As Described In Early Texts Of Buddhism and Jainism

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

Page 26

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INDIA AS DESCRIBED IN PARLY TIXTS
(4) Eastern India, Assam and Bengal proper including the whole of the Gangetic Delta together with Sambalpur, Orissa and Ganjam: and
(5) Southern India, the whole of the peninsula from Nasik on the west and Ganjam on the east to Cape Comorin on the south including the modern districts of Berar and Telingana, Mahārāştra and the Konkan with the separate States of Hyderabad, Mysore and Travancore or very nearly the wholo of the peninsula to the south of the Narmadā and the Mahānaclī rivers.
The broad divisions of India, mot with in early Pali texts, are rather six than five. These are: (1) Majjhimadesa (i.e. Madhyadosa or Middle Country); 1 (2) Hemavata or Himavanta (Himalayan region); 2 (3) Uttarăpatha (Northwestern region); 8 (4) Dakkhiņāpatha or Dakkhiņā janapadā (i.e. Dākşiņātya or Deccan); (5) Pubbanta (Eastern India); and (6) Aparānta (Western India).
The Anguttara Nikāya mentions the following sixteen as Mahājanapadas among the countries
1 Vinaya, 1, p. 197; Jätaka, i, pp. 49-80.
* Mahavamaa, xi, 41; generally called Himavantapadesa in seyeral Jatakas.
& Vmaya, iž, p. 6; Samantapdsådrka, i, p. 175; Jätaka, ii, p. 277, iv, 79; Divyqvadāna, p. 470; Mahāvast ili, p. 303; Petavatthua#hakathā, p. 200; Theragăthd-affhakathe i, p. 339.
* Sutta-nipāta, verse 976; Vinaya, i, f. 196-6; ii, p. 298; Jätaka, 41, p.403; v, p. 188; Sumangalavilāsint, 1, p. 266.