wards adopted by the authors of several of the Purânas. According to this arrangement, Pânchâla was the chief district of the central division, Magadha of the east, Kalinga of the south-east, Avanta of the south, Anarta of the south-west, Sindhu-Sauvira of the west, Hârahaura of the north-west, Madra of the north, and Kauninda of the north-east.[1] But there is a discrepancy between this epitome of Varâha and his details, as Sindhu-Sauvira is there assigned to the south-west, along with Anarta.[2] This mistake is certainly as old as the eleventh century, as Abu Rihâm has preserved the names of Varâha's abstract in the same order as they now stand in the 'Brihat-Sanhitâ.'[3] These details are also supported by the 'Mârkandeya Purâna,' which assigns both Sindhu-Sauvira and Anarta to the south-west.[4]
I have compared the detailed lists of the 'Brihat-Sanhitâ' with those of the Brahmânda, Mârkandeya, Vishnu, Vâyu, and Matsya Purânas; and I find that, although there are sundry repetitions and displacements of names, as well as many various readings, yet [5]
- ↑ 'Brihat-Sanhitâ,' ch. xiv. 32, 33.
- ↑ Ibid., xiv. 17,—
Nairrityâm disi desâ
Pahlava Kâmboja Sindhu-Sauvîra—Wilford has given Varaha's list in vol. viii. p. 341, of Bengal Asiat. Researches; but he has made two divisions of Sindhu-Sauvira, and omitted Kanninda. His details, however, agree with the 'Brihat-Sanhitâ,' in assigning Sindhu-Sauvira as well as Anarta to the south-west.
- ↑ The Nine Divisions of Abu Rihân are given in Reinaud's 'Mémoire sur l'Inde,' pp. 116, 117. Compare No. II. Map, fig. 3.
- ↑ Ward's 'Hindus,' iii. 10.
- ↑ considered as representing the geography of Parasara, or perhaps yet more ancient works, "and not as the actual map of India in Varâha-Mihira's time."
