Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra
by Helen M. Johnson | 1931 | 742,503 words
This is the English translation of the Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Charita (literally “The lives of the sixty-three illustrious People”), a Sanskrit epic poem written by Hemachandra in the twelfth century. The work relates the history and legends of important figures in the Jain faith. These 63 persons include: the twenty four tirthankaras , the t...
Sindhuniṣkuṭa and Gaṅgāniṣkuṭa
The ‘sindhuniṣkuṭa’ is the part of Bharatavarṣa bounded on the east and south by the Sindhu, on the west by the ocean, and on the north by the Kṣudrahimavat Mts. It is divided by Mt. Vaitāḍhya into north and south ‘niṣkuṭas.’ The same applies to the Gaṅgāniṣkuṭa which is bounded by the Gaṅgā on the west and the ocean on the east. Here it is the southern district that is conquered. Below, in 243, it is the northern part, though Hem. uses only ‘paścima’ in both cases. In 1.4.249, 458, 539 and 586, Hem. specifies the northern and southern divisions. In the Göttingische gelehrte Anzeigen (1932, pp. 293 ff.) Prof. Schubring discusses Hem.’s variations from the accounts in the Jambūdvīpaprajñapti, and Āvaśyakasūtra (Malayagiris commentary) of this expedition of conquest. Prof. Schubring is mistaken, however, in saying that in the first parvan, Hemacandra has combined the conquests of the north and south divisions into one.
In the Triṣaṣṭi0, as in the Jambūdvīpaprajñapti, the general is sent to conquer the south Sindhuniṣkuṭa; then after his return they march through Tamisrā, subdue the Kirātas, and then the general conquers the north Sindhuniṣkuṭa. In the conquest of the Gaṅgāniṣkuṭa, Hem. also follows the Jambūdvīpaprajñapti. The general conquers first the north division, then they march through Khaṇḍaprapātā, subdue the ‘nine treasures,’ and then the general conquers the south Gaṅgāniṣkuṭa. In the second parvan, Sagara follows the same route, though the description is much briefer.