Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

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Sec. V]
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA
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to them during the period of this canonical work. While the mention of the Chinese silken cloth shows that India had an overland traffic with China, maintained by her ancient merchants for external trade.
It appears from the knowledge of geographical places, such as, Rajag?ha, Vaišai7, Campā, Kajangalā, Srāvasti Kauáāmbi, Kāść, Hastinapura, Tâmrulipti, Vitībhaya, etc., that the Himalayan belts, the far north and south, the far east and west of India were well connected by some means of communications.
A close study of the itinerary of Lord Mahāvīra and those of the other wandering teachers and monks shows that they followed the familiar routes which were used by all peoples including the merchants.
As to the east-west routes the BhS tells of the journey of Lord Mahāvīra from Campā to the city of Vitībhaya' in Sindhu. Sauvīra and that of the Prince Abhijit from Vitābhaya to Campā,* on its way lay Kāśī and Kaušāmbi.
One north-south-east route ran from Srāvastī to Rājagrha and the other from Srāvastī to Kajangalā, the south-east to the north-east routes-were from Rājagļha to Campā Srāvasti to Campā; Vaiśāli to Campā; Vaišāli to Mithila; Vaiśāli to Pāvā; Kāšī to Vaiśālī, Košala to Vaisāli, RājagỊha to Tāmralipti. Others ran from Rajagrha to Vindhyagiri, Rājagrha to Alabhikā, Rājagrha to Hastināpura, Tungikā Kāmpilya, etc.
Besides these, there were small roads linked with Rājagrha as indicated by the evidences of this canonical work.
The references to the female attendants belonging to some Indian tribes and foreign countries as already pointed out clearly suggest that there were trade rocads and communications from Vaisāli to the Kirāta country in the north and north-east (Asama), to the Barbaradesa (the Himālayan belt from Kaśmira to north
i Bhs, 9, 33, 380, 4 Ib, 9, 33, 380.
I6, 13, 6, 491.
9 16, 13, 6, 492.
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