Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

Page 577

552
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SÜTRA [Ch. IX accounts and epigraphic records as a celebrated river having seven streams under different names, such as Sindhu'. Hindu', Sintu', etc.
It is the trans-Himālayan river which flows from the slopes of the Himālayas through North-West-Frontier-Province, the Punjab and Sindh and joins the Western Indian sea.
The classical Greek accounts refer to the seven tributaries of Sindhu, viz. the Hydraotes (Rāvī), the Akesines (Cenāb), the Hypasis (Vipāśā-Beās), the Hydaspes (Vitasta-Jhelum), the Kophon (Kabul), the Parenos, the Saparnos and the Saonos.
The list of the seven streams of the Sindhu does not fully tally with that of its seven tributaries mentioned in the Rgveda, viz. Sutudri (Sutlej), Parusni (Rāvī) Asiknī (Cenāb), Marudvrddhā (a small Kāšmīrian river), Vitstā (Jhelum) and Susamā (Sohan)."
The Meharauli Iron Pillar Inscription of king Candra also refers to the seven mouths of Sindhu (Tirtvā saptamukhāni Sindhoh). They also find mention in the Periplus of the Erythraean sea.9
Mountains
The Bhs makes mention of the following mounts, viz. Himavata,to Vindhyagiri,"? Vipula" and Velhāra, but it does not give a clear account of the mountain system of India as recorded in other Jaina texts, Brāhmņical and Buddhist works.
Behistūn Inscription of Darius; Vendād (Hindu); Beal's Buddhist Records of the Western world I, p. 69 ; Cf. J.A.S.B.
1886 (II. p. 323); Legge : Fa-Hien, p. 26. * Meharauli Iron Pillar Inscription of king Candra. 8 Rg-Veda, VIII, 24.27 etc. 4 Hi(v) du or Hindu (Behistūn Inscription of Darius), C. H. I.
Vol. 1 p. 324; 5 Legge : Fa-Hien, p. 26. 6 H. G. A. I. p. 127, B.C. Law. 7 Rg-Veda, X, 75. 8 Me harauli Iron Pillar Inscription of king Candara; Vide,
Select Inscriptions of Dr. D. C. Sirkar. p. 275. 9 Periplus of the Erythraean Sea. 10 Bhiš, 9, (3-30), 364. 11 16, 3, 2, 144 ; 14, 8, 528. 1[6, 2, 1, 94.
13 lb, 3, 4, 160.