Written by London Swaminathan

Date: 8 September 2017

Time uploaded in London- 17-04

Post No. 4193

Pictures are taken from various sources; thanks.

I was reading a book titled Geographical Horizon of the Mahabharata by Pande Syam Narayan published in 1980. Following are some interesting data:

The epic contains much of the geographical material relating to India and outside. There are 230 Janapadas (states) mentioned in the MBH. Out of these 230, 62 are towards the North, 35 towards the East, 27 towards the West and 36 towards the South.

(the author’s description of the seas and countries and their identification may not be correct; but it can be used a starting point)

He adds

Janapadas of Sakadwipa

Udaivarsa (Malaya, Jalada)

Sukumaravarsa of Jalandhi mountain; it is the Komroi of the Greeks

Kaumaravarsa Or Narada mountain

Manicara or Anandaka Varsa; it has been identified as Mustag mentioned in the Zend Avesta

Mainaka varsa of the Ambikeya mountain

It seems the author of the Bhisma Parva and the Greeks had the similar knowledge

Janapada of Pushkala Dwipa

The MBH gives only one janapada by the name Saba having a quadrangular habitation divided into 33 divisions of mandala. Vamana, Airavata, Supratika and Anjana are said to be the guards of the four directions.

Janapadas of Kusadwipa

There is a great bush of Kusa or poa grass and there are the following seven varsas:

Umigada, Venumandala, Surathaakaara, Kambala, Dhrimana, Prabhaakara and Kapila

Janapadas of Krauncadwipa

There are seven varsas in the dwipa:

Kusala, Manonuga, Usna, Pravaraka, Andhakaraka Muniand Dundubhiswana

Janapadas of Jambudwipa

They are scattered in four directions. There is neither any sequence nor any classification; their identification becomes very difficult

Adhiraja

Aparaparjata

Asvaataka

Agneya

Aj-neya

Adhirastra

Averekah

Ahvaayaka

Aupakah

Aurasikah——10

Balitha

Carmakara

Civuka

Cicchila

Darsaka

Dasamiyaa

Dirgavenu

Drptaaksha

Govasana

Krakhadaah———— 20

Karabhanjakaah

Karavataah

Kuraka

Krmi

Karakaraah

Kayavya

Kaalaamukh

Kundamaana

Kusavindu

Kaisika—————- 30

Lalaataksa

Lalitya

Lohajanga

Manga (mrga)

Mandaka

Mandiika

Madaka

Majeeecha

Mavillakah

Mundaajh————– 40

Murucipatan

Modanaah

Maukaah

Nalakalaka

Naula

Natakeya

Pacakarpata

Panitaka

Pasu

Prakuttsakah——————- 50

Prakira

Pravrseya

Prahuta

Rajanya

Suukara

Sanjayanti

Sansthaanah

Sudesnu

Suparsva

Saivala—————— 60

Saubha

Tumbuna

Trayaksa

Trayainga

Taaratoyah

Uparyakah

Upaavrta

Ulluukha

Varmakah

Vanarasya———————– 70

In the second part I will give the Janapadas in the north, south and west where known places figure.

—–to be continued