Srngaramanjari Katha

Author(s): Bhojdev, Kalpalata K Munshi
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan

Page 97

CHAPTER VI
A PICTURE OF THE TIMES
The SMK presents a graphic picture of the times in which it was written. The main scene is laid in the city of Dhārā, but the stories take us throughout the length and breadth of India. The territorial boundaries of the political states changed with the rise and fall of kingdoms one after another. Social life with its timehonoured customs and traditions evolved differently in the different parts of the country, and yet, as we read of various happenings in the different cities we feel underneath it a deep and constant flow of cultural homogeneity which presents the picture not of this or that part of the country, but of the whole of India, one and undivided.
Geography
SMK has a large geographical canvas. From Udyāna in the north Peshāwar we come to the Simhaladvīpa in the South, and from Kachcha on the sea in the west to Prāgjyotişa in Assam in the east. Among the countries Avanti, Kaccha, Nepāla, Pañcāla, Magadha and Malaya are mentioned. Avanti, the ancient name for Malwa, with its capital Ujjayinī is well-known. The present text also refers to it as:
अस्त्यवन्तिषु श्रीमत्युज्जयिनी नाम नगरी। The city of Ujjayini is described as being presided over by Sri Mahākālanātha. His heart was captivated by Ujjayini's charm, so he left his abode on Kailāsa and took up his residence there. In all the three stories where Ujjayini has been mentioned, Vikramārka or Sāhasāńka or Vikramāditya is referred to as the king. Kaccha and Nepāla are what they are today. The land of Nepāla is described as being fragrant with the musk of deer. Ahicchatra (modern Ramnagar in Bareilly District, U.P.), the capital of North Pañcāla, and Kānyakubja (modern Kanoj), the capital of the south Pañcāla, are mentioned.1 Magadha is an ancient name and is identified with South Bihar. Malaya is Malabar, Cochin and Travancore. Hasiinågapura is the same as Hastināpura, the capital of the Kurus, northeast of Delhi. There is also a reference to a Hastigrāma, a town of the Brähmanas, on the bank of the Ganges. Kausāmbi (modern Kosam on the Yamunā, near Allahabad), the capital of Udayana (Vatsa country). and Vidiśā (modern Bhilsa) are well known. Prāg1. For the identification of the places Nundolal Dey's 'The Geographical Dictionary
of Ancient and Mediæval India' has been followed.