Srngaramanjari Katha

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

Page 98

A PICTURE OF THE TIMES
jyotişa is identified with Gauhati in Assam, and in the text is described as being adorned with krsnaguru. The corrupt form of Tāmralipti (modern Tamluk in Midnapore District, Bengai)-Tāmaliptiis given in the text. Kundinapura (modern Kaundinyapur in Chandur taluk of Amraoti) is ancient capital of Vidarbha Vatsagulma (Basim in Akola District, M.P.) is another town of Vidarbha as Rajasekhara states it to be. But Vätsyāyana mentions Vatsagulma and Vidarbha as though in two different countries.3 However, Vatsagulma situated in Vidarbha would suit the context of the story here better on account of its being in the vicinity of Manyakheța. Nāsikya (modern Nasik) is incidentally referred to. Lāța (Southern Gujarat). Kerala (Malabar Coast), Konkana and Dravida (South India) have been mentioned. Küñci is Conjeevaram and its description as having conquered the three worlds by its wealth of beauty would be proper since it was the capital of the powerful Pallavas since the ninth century. Uragapura was the capital of the Colas and Pallavas, who after being forced into obscurity by Kalabhras, Pandyas and Pallavas reached their zenith of power in the 11th century and ruled over the whole of the Tamil country. It is referred to as having a powerful king. The town has been variously identified with Uraiyur on the southern bank of Kaveri near Trichinopolit (present name Tirucherapalli), Nagapattam and with Madurā.
Another great capital of a powerful contemporaneous kingdom mentioned is Manyakheta (modern Malkhed in Hyderabad State). It is said in the 8th tale that the hero was in Pundravardhana and desired to join the services of the sovereign of Mānyakheța. From Pundravardhana he went to Vidiśā, thence to Bhāillasvāmidevapura, from there to the town of Purņapathaka, and then to Manyakheța.
Pundravardhana (modern Mahasthān near Bogra) is in North Bengal. Vidiśä is modern Bhilsā in Madhya Bharat. Bhaillasvāmidevapura? is 12 miles from Bisnagara. From there he entered Pürnapathaka in Berar. The identification of this town is somewhat difficult. But in the modern district of Parbhani (C.P.) we read of a town called Purna, which is on the way to Manyakheta. We can
2. Kävyamimāṁsā, (KM) p. 10. TanifeST FEAT anty FETITAT facing वत्सगुल्मं नाम नगरम् । 3. KS, V, 6, 35-36. 4. Classical Age, p. 244. 5. Dey, op. cit, p. 211. 6. Upadhyaya, B.S., India in Kalidasa, p. 67. 7. In two stone inscriptions of the twelfth century this place is mentioned. See
Ray, H.C., The Dynastic History of Northern India, Vol. II, pp. 706, 999. 8. Vide, The Imperial Atlas of India, Map No. 56, 70°-19o.