Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

Page 552

Sec. III]
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA
527
As in Jaina Geography the Jambū tree is situated in the region to the north of Mandāra mountain, so in the Brāhmaṇical Geography also it is mentioned as lying to the east of Meru on Mandāra, Gandhamādana-Supäriva.
The particular difference is that there are innumerable islands and seas encircling each other, while in the Brāhmaṇical Geography there are seven islands and seven seas, viz. Jambūdvzpa, Lavana-Samudra, Plaksadvīpa, Ikşurasa-Samudra, Sālmalidvipa, Sura-Samudra, Kušadvipa, Kšīra-Samudra, Sakadozpa, DadhiSamudra, Puskaradvīpa and Suddha-Samudra.
It is difficult to identify all these islands, seas, continents, sub-continents, mountains and rivers, etc., with accuracy in the light of the modern knowledge of Indian Geography at the present state of informations.
Here and there a few identifications of them are possible.
So far as India is concerned, the account of its shape, size, nomenclature, mountains, rivers, etc., seems to be accurate,
THIRD SECTION
Geography
Janapadas (States) It has already been pointed out in the first section of the third chapter on 'Political Conditions that India was politically divided into sixteen great states during the time of Lord Mahāvīra, viz. Anga, Vanga, Magadha, Malaya, Mālavaka, Accha, Vatsa, Kautsa, (Kaccha) Pādha (Patha), Lāta, Vajji (Vaija) (Videha), Moli, Kāśž, Košala, Abādha (Avāha) and Sunbhuttara.?
Besides these, there is the mention of Sindhu-Sauvīra, sixteen unnamed small states and many cities.
Most of these great states and cities are well known to the other ancient texts of India and can be identified with certainty.
i Bhs, 15, 1, 554.
Ib, 13, 6, 491.