Aryavarta 1999060 200035171 2008-03-22T09:12:34Z Utcursch 54809 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/24.185.131.189|24.185.131.189]] ([[User talk:24.185.131.189|talk]]) to last version by Fconaway [[Image:Map of Vedic India.png|thumb|300px|The approximate extent of [[Iron Age]] ([[Vedic civilization]]) 'Aryavarta' is highlighted]] '''Aryavarta''' ([[Sanskrit]]: आर्यावर्त, "abode of the [[Aryan]]s") is the ancient name for northern and central [[India]], where the culture of the [[Indo-Aryans]] was based. It is erroneous to give this name to the whole of India, since the borders of Aryavarta have been described differently in sources from different times. {{HistoryOfSouthAsia}} The [[Manu Smriti]] (2.22) gives the name to "the tract between the [[Himalaya]] and the [[Vindhya]] ranges, from the eastern to the western sea". The [[Vasistha Dharma Sutra]] I.8-9 and 12-13 locates Aryavarta to the east of the disappearance of the [[Sarasvati]] in the desert, to the west of [[Kalakavana]], to the north of the mountains of [[Pariyatra Mountains | Pariyatra]] and [[Vindhya]] and to the south of the [[Himalaya]]. [[Baudhayana]] ''Dharmasutra'' (BDS) 1.1.2.10 gives similar definitions and declares that Aryavarta is the land that lies west of [[Kalakavana]]<ref>region of modern Allahabad</ref>, east of [[Adarsana]]<ref>where the Sarasvati disappears</ref>, south of the [[Himalayas]] and north of the [[Vindhyas]]. In BDS 1.1.2.11 Aryavarta is confined to the [[Ganges River|Ganga]] - [[Yamuna]] doab, and BDS 1.1.2.13-15. Some sutras recommend expiatory acts for those who have crossed the boundaries of Aryavarta. Baudhayana ''Srautasutra'' recommends this for those who have crossed the boundaries of Aryavarta and ventured into far away places<ref>[http://www.omilosmeleton.gr/english/documents/VedicEvidenceforAMT.pdf Vishal Agarwal, "Is there Vedic evidence for the Indo-Aryan Immigration to India?"]</ref> [[Patanjali]]'s {{IAST|[[Mahābhāṣya]]}} defines Aryavarta like the Vasistha Dharma Sutra. Aryavarta may thus have different definitions. In some later texts, Northwest-[[Indian subcontinent|India]] (which earlier texts consider as part of "Aryavarta") is even seen as "impure", probably due to invasions. The [[Mahabharata|Karnaparva]] 43.5-8 states that those who live on the Sindhu and the five rivers of the Punjab are impure and dharmabahya. == Notes == {{reflist}} == References == * Kane, Pandurang Vaman: ''History of Dharmasastra: (ancient and mediaeval, religious and civil law)'' Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Poona (1962-1975) ==See also== *[[Vedic civilization]] *[[Etymology of India]], [[India]], [[Bharata]] *[[Airyanem Vaejah]] [[Category:Hindu history]] [[Category:Locations in Hindu mythology]] [[pl:Arjawarta]]