The Geography of the Puranas c7.s1.14

c7.s1.14

The population pattern, i.e., its distribution and agglomeration is frequently referred to in the Vedic literature. The ‘grāmas’ and ‘puras’ (strongholds or forts) of the Ṛgveda and the ‘nagaras’ of the post-Ṛgvedic period clearly point out the nucleation of population as well-defined settlements in the land of the Āryans, although but few names of cities or towns appear in their discussions. For instance, in the vast Vedic literature mentioned above, only a few cities like Āsandivat (Ait. Brāh., VIII, 21), Kampila (Vāj. Saṃh., XXIII, 18; Śat. Brāh. XIII, 2, 8, 3), Paricakrā (Śat. Brāh., XIII, 5, 4, 7) and Kauśāmbeya or Kuśāmba (Śat. Brāh., XII, 2, 2, 13) receive some attention. n the Epic and the Purāṇic periods when the impact of politics on religion became more pronounced, references to political divisions, capital cities and administrative and strategic centres increased along with those to religious centres. But the genesis of human settlements, irrespective of their size, that is, their division into segregated quarters of different castes, persisted throughout.