Written by London Swaminathan
Date: 9 September 2017
Time uploaded in London- 11-54 am
Post No. 4196
Pictures are taken from various sources; thanks.
PART FIRST WAS POSTED YESTERDAY
JANAPADAS IN THE NORTH
A verse quoted by Nagesa provided a clue for dividing the northern region from that of the eastern. The river Sarasvati is said to be the dividing line in that verse. Amarakosa has also given such direction. It included Kamboja North eastern Punjab the mountainous union or Parvatiya sang indicated by Panini. MBH describes them as Parvatiya (mountainous), Girigahvaravaasi (those living in the caves of the mountains). The following 62 janapadas have been identified in the group:
ABHISARA: south of Kasmira the PunchaRajanr; Greeks called the north western districts of Peshwar – abisaris
AMBASTA: Lower parts of the Chenab river; Panini mentioned Ambasta and AAmbasta; it corresponds with the Greek—Sambastai and Avastanoi
AAHUKA: Kabul basin in Afghanistan
AUDUMBURA: federal state of Udumbura
BARBARA:situated in Oxus valley; Panini named a pot named Barbarika near Karachi in Pakistan
BODHA:they are identified with Yaudheyas; Bayaanaa and Johiaakara region of Bharatapura
BHARADWAJA:Western part of Assam
CARMAMANDALA: may be Samarakhandika
CINA: Modern Sinkiang or Chiense Turkestan
DARADI: Dardistan area of Giljit
DAARVA: Daggar Jammu area
DASAMAALIKAA: area between River Jhelam and Bias (Vyas)
also Dasanaamika; Girivraja capital
DASERAKA:Marwara region of Rajasthan
GRAMANIIYAKA:Panini also mentioned them; they are militant. Cave dwellers organised under leader GRAMANI.
GANDHARA: It has been famous from Vedic days; region stretching from Taxila to River Kabul; modern Khandahar in Afghanistan; Pushkalavati Takshsheelam capitals
GIRIGAHVARAVAASINAH: militant race organised under Gramani. also known as Gauri. they are called Parvatiya (mountainous)
17.HAMSAMARGA: name of the Hunja region. janapada of the Parvatiya sanga ( unio of mountainous group)
18.HARAHUNA: Harmurtika, land of black grapes; janapada in Herat.
19.HAIMAVATAH: living in the Himalays; north of Sikkim
20.HUNA:the race shifted to one place to another.Kalidasa points them towards Persia; lived near Oxus and its tributaries
21.JAGUDA: Gazni area of Afghanistan
- KAMBOJA:Pamir region; they say sa va to go according to Mhabhasya;its used in Galcha dialect; Dwaraka capita. some identifies with Kashmir.
- KASMIRA: Sarada country; blessed by Goddess of learning city-Adhistana; present Kashmir.
24.KALATOYAKA- near Suleman hills
25.KEKAYA: associated with the country of Dasamalika; Ramayana locates it near Ghandhara
26.KHASA:Baltistan; mid-oxus
27.KULINDA:region in the Himalayas
28.KULUUTA: Bhima killed Ksemamuurti, King of Kuluutas; ii is in modern Kulu
29.KURUJANGALA: region between river Sarasvati and Ganga; Haryana
30.LOHITA: Rohela of Afghhanistan
31.LAMPAKA:North of Kabul Laghamanas attacked Satyaki in the Jarasadha Vadha; alinagar valley
32.MADRAKA: capital- sakala; modern Sialkot; associated with princess Savitri and Vedic teacher Sakalya
33.MADREYA:Madri is from this country; same as madraka; janapadas of noth Punjab
34.MAULEYA: modern Malwa region
35.PRASTHALA: near Patiala
36.PANCABHEDA: five rivers=Punjab
37.PAHLAVA: who came from the tail of Vasistha’scow; Parthian’s of Iran; samarkhand to Iran
38.PARATAKA:Hingula region of Pakistan
39.PAARASIIKAS: IRAN= Persia
40.PISACA: neighbours of Lampaka janapada; Pasai Kafirs were the inhabitants
41.PULINDA: Panini called them SAALVAAVAYANA. part of salva janapada
42.RAMATHA: near Ghazni in Afghanistan
43.SUKUTTA: Suket estate
44.SAIRANDHRA: Sirhind region
45.SAKA: Modern Seistan in Iran
46.SAAKALA: modern Sialkot; Panini referred to it.
47.SAATVAKA: Mandi on the northern bank of Sutlej
48.SALVA:Panini mentioned threeSaalva, Saalveya and Saalvaavayana. Near Matsyas
49.SIVI:Rik Veda mentioned them; country ath the confluence of Jhelam and Sindhu in Pakistan.
50.TANGADA PARATANGANA: country of Mleccas; Bhota country;Kullu Kangda region; mountainous
51.TRGARTA: Panini mentioned people of this country lived on arms. There was a union of six countries in Trgarta: Kaundiparatha, Dandika, Krautsika, Jaalamani, Brahmagupta and Jaanika
52.TUSAARA:Tokharistan (former USSR) They were present at Rajasuya Yajna of Yudhidthira
53.TOMARA:Tibetan region near Bhutan
54.UTSAVASANKETA: Ramapura, Basahara region of valley of Satluj
55.URAGA:Hazara district; between the Rivers Sindhu and Jhelum
56.VANAYU: Wana valley of Waziristan in Pakistan
57.VAATADHAANA: region east of Pancanada between Rivers Satluj and Ravi
58.VAAHLIKA: Balkh; Bactria of the Greeks; Skanda Purana mentioned this country out of 72 regions including 400,000 villages.
59.VAHIKA: according to Panini it is a synonym of Usinara; durin Panini’s times whole of Punjab was called Vahika.
60.VAIYAMAKA:identified near DARADI
61.YAVANA: The Greeks were called Yavanas with yellow coloured bodies; part of Jambudwipa; north west India
62.YUGANDHARA:Yugasila country near Dehradun of UP on the bank of River Yamuna
In the third and part we will look at southern regions.
………………….to be continued
Tamil and Vedas 