Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c10.103

c10.103

Fifthly, the brahmans freely misapplied historical or other tradition to new places and conditions to subserve religious ends. Thus they transferred the story of Hariścandra, Rohita and Śunaḥśepa ² and that of Purūravas ³ to the Godāvarī in order to enhance its glory in the Gautami-māhātmya. They connected Rāma with the R. Lauhitya (Brahmaputra),⁴ and Urvaśī with that river ⁵ and also Mt. Malaya.⁶