Geography of Early Buddhism

Bimala Churn Law’s Geography of Early Buddhism fulfils the long and acutely felt need for such a work; for many of the topographical features, both real and imaginary described in ancient literature, exist no longer. Early Pali literature, Jataka tales, Asokan inscriptions and the accounts of Chinese pilgrims contain much geographical information along with a mass of other details. All these scattered facts are collected and arranged here in a systematic manner so as to bring out a coherent geographical picture of ancient India. The chapters are so planned as to being out clearly the various physical features like boundaries, town, cities, lakes, rivers and mountains of the five regions- Middle, North, West, South and East – in which India is traditionally divided. The countries – Ceylon, Burma and others which adopted Buddhism later – are also described. A note on Cetiya and a map, showing the important kingdoms, cities, rivers and mountains known in that dim and distant past, are added.