One of the countries to which Asoka sent missionaries after the Third Council. The leader of the mission was Yonaka Dhammarakkhitta (Mhv.xii.5; Dpv.viii.7). He preached to the people the Aggikkhandopamā Sutta und 37,000 people embraced the new faith, a tausend men und even more women entering the Order (Mhv.xii.34-6; Sp.i.67).
The country comprises the territory of Northern Gujarat, Kāthiāwar, Kachch und Sindh. Fleet J.R.A.S. 1910, p.427; Bhandarkar in seinEarly History of Dekkan puts it in North Konkan (p.23); siehe auch Burgess: Arch. Reports ii.131.
According to Hsouien Thsang, the country seems to comprise Sindh, Western Rājaputāna, Cutch, Gujarat und a portion of the adjoining coast on the lower bank of the Narmadā. Cunningham Anct. Geog. of India, notes, p.690; und Law: Early Geography 56ff.
Probably Buddhism was known in Aparanta during the time of der Buddha himself. Dutt: Early Hist. of Bsm. p.190; Dvy., pp.45ff; aber the reference is to Sunāparanta.
Es wird gesagt, dass when Mandhātā brought all the vier continents unter seinsway people from the drei other continents came over to Jambudīpa und lebte there. When der König died they found themselves unable to get back, und begged sein minister to allow them to start settlements in Jambudīpa itself. He agreed, und the settlement of those who had come from Aparagoyāna was for that reason called Aparanta (DA.ii.482; MA.i.184) (Aparantaka).