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Vol. XXXV, 2012
'Bhuvanasundari-Kathā'
91
I shall not go into the details of the kathā/storey, which is a pure fiction, but shall dwell upon such matters which are relevant to the objective of this article. The author being Jaina, the major thrust is toward Jaina and the portrayals in the narration understandably conjure up Jaina ambience.
Among the Jinas, in the context implicitly of images/temples, are mentioned Rşabhanātha/Rşabhasvāmī, Candraprabha, Vasupūjaya or Vāsupūjya, śāntinātha, and Neminātha. The two famous western Indian Jaina tīrthas in Saurāstra, namely Ujjayanta (Girnār) and Satruñjayagiri (setruñjo), also figure. The attendant or subsidiary Jaina divinities—goddesses all—such as Cakreśvarī/Aparaticakrā, Kusmandi (Ambikā), Jvālini (Jvālāmālinī), and the mahāvidyās like Kālī, Mahākālī, Prajñpti, too, are included. The Vidyādhara (angelic) brothers Nami and Vinami (grandsons of Jina Rsabha) also find mention at once place. Likewise, the Brahmanical tirthas—Prabhāsa (Pabhosa near Allahabad ?). Kanakhala. Pravāga, all located along R. Gangā are noticed. Also, at one place are mentioned Bhrgu (Bhrgukaccha) and Suklatirtha (on R. Narmadā), both of them alluded together in a single sequential order. The Brahmanical divinities, as the narrative situations and contexts demand, likewise are mentioned. Among them Vaiśvadeva, Brahmā, Visnu, Nārāyana, Krsna, Baladeva, Indra/Sakra, Bhairava, and Bhairavī, Candi/Candikā, Kātyāyinī, Dāksāyinī, Cāmundā, Gaurī, as also Sura (Surya) and graha or a planetary divinity, and specifically there, Saniścara (Saturn). And at one place Daśānana (Rāvana), too, figures.
Among the geographic/political provinces of the ancient and medieval India, the author refers to Angadeśa, Drāvida country, Kāmarūpa (Assam), Kaśmīra (Käsmīra), Kośala, Lankā, and Magadhādeśa (Magadha). As for the cities and towns, those that are non-legendary, are noted here: these include Angadikā (probably in Bihar), Ayodhyā (U.P.), Campā (Bihar), Dväravatī (Dvārakā, Sautrashtra) and Kāñci (Tamilnadu); also Kaušāmbi, Mathurā (both in U.P.), Nāśikya (Nāsik, Maharashtra), Prāgjyotişa (Prāgyotişapura, Assam), Rathanūpura (plausibly in M.P., unidentified), Rājagsha (Bihar), Tāmralipti (Tämluk, Bengal), Somēśvaranagarī (Prabhāsa-Pāțana, Saurashtra), Śrīvardhana (Karnataka or South Konkana), and Ratnapura (Sri Lanka).7 In the context of Mathurā, the notice taken of the 'Jina-thubha' (Jaina stūpa, implied to be of Jina Pārsva) is historically very important. At one place, the mythical "Sakrāvatāra-caitya' is mentioned. Among mountains, some mythica a few actual, are noted: These are Astāpada, Vaitādhya, Sumeru, Vindhyagiri, Malayagiri, Maināka, and Kulagiri. And a couple of rivers like Godāvarī, Revā (Narmadā) and Golā-nadi (location unknown) are included.
