________________
THE SEVEN REGIONS
91
10. Bharata, Haimavata, Hari, Videha, Ramyaka, Hairanyavata and Airāvata are the seven regions.
The names Bharata and the rest are prevalent from eternity and are without cause. Where is Bharatavarşa situated ? It is the country bounded by the mountain chain of Himavan on the north and the three oceans on the other sides. It is in the shape of a bow. It is divided into six continents by the mountain chain Vijayārdha and the two rivers, the Ganga and the Sindhu. Haimavatavarşa is the country lying north of the Small Himavan and south of the Great Himavan, bounded by the oceans on the other two sides. Harivarşa is situated between the mountain chains of Nişadha on the north and Mahāhimavan on the south, bounded by the oceans on the east and on the west. Videha is bounded by Nişadha on the south, Nila on the north and the oceans on the other tw Ramya kavarşa is between Nila on the south and Rukmi on the north with the oceans on the other two sides. Hairanyavatavarsa is between Rukmi on the south and Sikhari on the north with the oceans on the other two sides. Airāvatavarşa is surrounded by Sikhari on the south and the oceans on the other three sides. This is divided into six regions by Vijayārdha and the Raktā and the Raklodā.
The mountain chains have been mentioned as six. What are these and how do these run ?
तद्विभाजिनः पूर्वापरायता हिमवन्महाहिमवन्निषधनी
लरुक्मिशिखरिणो वर्षधरपर्वताः Tadvibhājinaḥ pūrvāparāyatā himavanmahāhima
vannişadhanilarukmiśikharino varşadharaparvatāḥ (11) 11. The mountain chains Himavan, Mahāhimavan, Nişadha, Nila, Rukmi, and Sikhari, running east to west, divide these regions.
Tadvibhājinaḥ means those which divide these regions. Pūrvāparāyatā is extending from east to west and touching the Salt Ocean on both sides. These names have been current from eternity and are without signification. These are called varşadharaparvatāḥ, as these divide the land into several
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
