India As Described In Early Texts Of Buddhism and Jainism

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

Page 28

20 INDIA AS DESCRIBED IN EARLY TEXTS
of Baudhāyana as lying to the east of tho region where the river Saraswati disappears, to the west of the Black forest (Kalakavana), 1 to the north of the Pāripātra mountain and to the south of the Himalayas. The eastern boundary excluded not only the
country now known as Bengal but Behar which - in ancient days included the whole of Magadhan
country, the Buddhist land par excellence. - According to Manu, Madhyadeśa extends from
the Himalayas in the north to tho Vindhyas in the south and from Vinaśana (the place whore the river Saraswati disappears) in tlio west to Prayāg in the east. It is otherwiso kuown as Antaravedi or Inland which extends up to Benares in the east. The Buddhist writor would extend the boundary of Madhyadesa farther towards the east so as to include Anga and Magadha. According to tho Mahāvagga 6 of the Vinaya Pitaka, it extends in the east to the town of Kajangala e beyond which was the city
1 Cunningham, Ancient Geography of India, li and xlı, f.n. 1. 2 Baudhayana, 1, 1, 2, 9, etc.
8 Manu, u, 21 Humavad-vindhyayor madhye yat prag vim asanádapıpratyagava Prayāgāo ca Madhyadejah prakirttitah'
4 Kõvya-māmāmsā, p 93 The same extension is implied also in the Mārkandeya Purana.
5 Vol. V, pp. 12-13.
& Identicatwith Ka chu-wen-kilo of Yuan Chwang which lay at a distance of above 400 lz east from Campā (Bhagalpur). Of. Sumangalavdasint 11, 429, as to Kajangala forming the eastern boundary of the Madhyadeau Also see Jät, uu, 226-7; 1v, 310.