Aparanta: Difference between revisions

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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
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{{Use Indian English|date=April 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2017}}
{{South Asia in 500 BCE||South Asia circa 500 BCE, with location of Aparanta.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Schwartzberg |first1=Joseph E. |title=A Historical atlas of South Asia |date=1978 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |location=Chicago |page=145, map XIV.1 (d)|isbn=0226742210 |url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/schwartzberg/pager.html?object=182}}</ref><ref>Content mirrored from [[:File:Mahajanapadas_(c._500_BCE).png|this map]]</ref>}}
'''Aparanta''', or '''Aparantaka''' (meaning "Western border") was a geographical region of ancient [[India]]. It corresponded to the northern part of the [[Konkan]] region on the western coast of India. English civil servant-turned-historian [[John Faithfull Fleet|J. F. Fleet]] believed that the Aparanta region included [[Kathiawad]], [[Kutch]], and [[Sindh]], beside Konkan. However, historical records make it clear that the extent of Aparanta was much smaller.<ref>{{cite book |author=Sashi Bhusan Chaudhuri |title=Ethnic Settlements in Ancient India |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.12386 |year=1955 |publisher=General |page=[https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.12386/page/n78 56] }}</ref>
'''Aparanta''', or '''Aparantaka''' (meaning "Western border") was a geographical region of ancient [[India]]. It corresponded to the northern part of the [[Konkan]] region on the western coast of India. English civil servant-turned-historian [[John Faithfull Fleet|J. F. Fleet]] believed that the Aparanta region included [[Kathiawad]], [[Kutch]], and [[Sindh]], beside Konkan. However, historical records make it clear that the extent of Aparanta was much smaller.<ref>{{cite book |author=Sashi Bhusan Chaudhuri |title=Ethnic Settlements in Ancient India |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.12386 |year=1955 |publisher=General |page=[https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.12386/page/n78 56] }}</ref>


The Junagadh inscription of Rudradaman mentions that during [[Ashoka]]'s reign, a ''Yonaraja'' (literally; Ionian, or Greek, King), [[Tushaspha]] was the governor of Aparanta.<ref>Thapar R. (2001), ''{{IAST|Aśoka}} and the Decline of the Mauryas'', Oxford University Press, New Delhi, {{ISBN|0-19-564445-X}}, p.128</ref> A Buddhist text, the [[Mahavamsa]] states (xii.5) that at the conclusion of the [[Third Buddhist Council]] (c.250 BCE), a ''Yona'' (Greek) ''Thera'' (monk) [[Dharmaraksita|Dhammarakkhita]] was sent here by the emperor Ashoka to preach [[Dhamma]]<ref>Thapar R. (2001), ''{{IAST|Aśoka}} and the Decline of the Mauryas'', Oxford University Press, New Delhi, {{ISBN|0-19-564445-X}}, p.47</ref> and 37,000 people embraced [[Buddhism]] due to his effort (''Mahavamsa'', xii.34-6). According to Buddhist scholar [[A.K. Warder]], the [[Dharmaguptaka]] sect originated here.<ref>Indian Buddhism by A.K. Warder Motilal Banarsidass: 2000. {{ISBN|81-208-1741-9}} pg 278<sup>[https://books.google.com/books?yrrtrtr545765iid=sE8MgUVGNHkC&pg=PA279&lpg=PA279&dq=sarvastivada+mulasarvastivada&source=bl&ots=OqjXjSsE_k&sig=NrYti6XKsDc0WM-4hfoE8MiCAEI&hl=en&ei=DugvSqKoBtCMtgfclJmIDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=29#PPA278,M1]</sup></ref>
The Junagadh inscription of Rudradaman mentions that during [[Ashoka]]'s reign, a ''Yonaraja'' (literally; Ionian, or Greek, King), [[Tushaspha]] was the governor of Aparanta.<ref>Thapar R. (2001), ''{{IAST|Aśoka}} and the Decline of the Mauryas'', Oxford University Press, New Delhi, {{ISBN|0-19-564445-X}}, p.128</ref> A Buddhist text, the [[Mahavamsa]] states (xii.5) that at the conclusion of the [[Third Buddhist Council]] (c.250 BCE), a ''Yona'' (Greek) ''Thera'' (monk) [[Dharmaraksita|Dhammarakkhita]] was sent here by the emperor Ashoka to preach [[Dhamma]]<ref>Thapar R. (2001), ''{{IAST|Aśoka}} and the Decline of the Mauryas'', Oxford University Press, New Delhi, {{ISBN|0-19-564445-X}}, p.47</ref> and 37,000 people embraced [[Buddhism]] due to his effort (''Mahavamsa'', xii.34-6). Ashoka mentioned the Aparanta in his edict:
<blockquote>
te savapāsamdesu viyapatā
dhammādhithanāye chā dhamma-vadhiyā hida-sukhāye vā dhamma-yutasa Yona-Kamboja-Gamdhālānam e vā pi amne apalamtā
</br>
 
—Fifth Major Rock Edict<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.ernet.505787/page/30/mode/1up|title=Fifth Major Rock Edict of Ashoka|last=Descriptive List Of Coins And Inscriptions|first=Department Of Public Instruction United Provinces|page=30|date=|language=en|access-date=2024-04-10}}</ref></br>
They have been employed among all sects for the establishment and growth of Dharma and for the good and happiness of those devoted to religion even among the [[Yonas]], [[Kambojas]], [[Gandharas]], Rastrikas, Pitinikas and whatever other peoples of [[Aparanta]] or western borders of mine there are.</blockquote>
According to Buddhist scholar [[A.K. Warder]], the [[Dharmaguptaka]] sect originated here.<ref>Indian Buddhism by A.K. Warder Motilal Banarsidass: 2000. {{ISBN|81-208-1741-9}} pg 278<sup>[https://books.google.com/books?yrrtrtr545765iid=sE8MgUVGNHkC&pg=PA279&lpg=PA279&dq=sarvastivada+mulasarvastivada&source=bl&ots=OqjXjSsE_k&sig=NrYti6XKsDc0WM-4hfoE8MiCAEI&hl=en&ei=DugvSqKoBtCMtgfclJmIDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=29#PPA278,M1]</sup></ref>


Aparanta is regarded as an umbrella term for ''[[Shurparaka]]desha'' for Konkan, to include in the North and [[Goa|Gomantaka]] in the south with the river ''Kundalika'' to serving as a dividing line in between the two.<ref name=goa>{{cite book|last1=Kamat Satoskar|first1=B.D.|title=Gomantak:Prakruti ani Sanskruti(Marathi)|date=1982|publisher=Shubhada publications|location=Pune|page=39}}</ref>
Aparanta is regarded as an umbrella term for ''[[Shurparaka]]desha'' for Konkan, to include in the North and [[Goa|Gomantaka]] in the south with the river ''Kundalika'' to serving as a dividing line in between the two.<ref name=goa>{{cite book|last1=Kamat Satoskar|first1=B.D.|title=Gomantak:Prakruti ani Sanskruti(Marathi)|date=1982|publisher=Shubhada publications|location=Pune|page=39}}</ref>

Latest revision as of 13:39, 5 July 2024

class=notpageimage|
South Asia circa 500 BCE, with location of Aparanta.[1][2]

Aparanta, or Aparantaka (meaning "Western border") was a geographical region of ancient India. It corresponded to the northern part of the Konkan region on the western coast of India. English civil servant-turned-historian J. F. Fleet believed that the Aparanta region included Kathiawad, Kutch, and Sindh, beside Konkan. However, historical records make it clear that the extent of Aparanta was much smaller.[3]

The Junagadh inscription of Rudradaman mentions that during Ashoka's reign, a Yonaraja (literally; Ionian, or Greek, King), Tushaspha was the governor of Aparanta.[4] A Buddhist text, the Mahavamsa states (xii.5) that at the conclusion of the Third Buddhist Council (c.250 BCE), a Yona (Greek) Thera (monk) Dhammarakkhita was sent here by the emperor Ashoka to preach Dhamma[5] and 37,000 people embraced Buddhism due to his effort (Mahavamsa, xii.34-6). Ashoka mentioned the Aparanta in his edict:

te savapāsamdesu viyapatā dhammādhithanāye chā dhamma-vadhiyā hida-sukhāye vā dhamma-yutasa Yona-Kamboja-Gamdhālānam e vā pi amne apalamtā

—Fifth Major Rock Edict[6]

They have been employed among all sects for the establishment and growth of Dharma and for the good and happiness of those devoted to religion even among the Yonas, Kambojas, Gandharas, Rastrikas, Pitinikas and whatever other peoples of Aparanta or western borders of mine there are.

According to Buddhist scholar A.K. Warder, the Dharmaguptaka sect originated here.[7]

Aparanta is regarded as an umbrella term for Shurparakadesha for Konkan, to include in the North and Gomantaka in the south with the river Kundalika to serving as a dividing line in between the two.[8]

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Schwartzberg, Joseph E. (1978). A Historical atlas of South Asia. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 145, map XIV.1 (d). ISBN 0226742210.
  2. ↑ Content mirrored from this map
  3. ↑ Sashi Bhusan Chaudhuri (1955). Ethnic Settlements in Ancient India. General. p. 56.
  4. ↑ Thapar R. (2001), Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. and the Decline of the Mauryas, Oxford University Press, New Delhi, ISBN 0-19-564445-X, p.128
  5. ↑ Thapar R. (2001), Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. and the Decline of the Mauryas, Oxford University Press, New Delhi, ISBN 0-19-564445-X, p.47
  6. ↑ Descriptive List Of Coins And Inscriptions, Department Of Public Instruction United Provinces. "Fifth Major Rock Edict of Ashoka". p. 30. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  7. ↑ Indian Buddhism by A.K. Warder Motilal Banarsidass: 2000. ISBN 81-208-1741-9 pg 278[1]
  8. ↑ Kamat Satoskar, B.D. (1982). Gomantak:Prakruti ani Sanskruti(Marathi). Pune: Shubhada publications. p. 39.


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