The Geography of the Puranas c8.218

c8.218

The Purāṇas, as will be seen later, recognised and gave equal importance to the Vakhsh-ab and the Pyandzh. In their opinion the Pyandzh 'went round Meru' (Pāmir) and combined with Vakhsh-ab, thus their Chakṣu practically encircled Meru on three sides. The Purāṇas, therefore, first mention the mountains along which the Vakhsh comes down to join the present Āmū Darya. Thereafter they describe the mountains outside the Meru region across which the Pyandzh flows to join the Vakhsh-ab. With this background, it is possible to identify the mountains mentioned in statement (d) quoted above and we will attempt to interpret the Purāṇic statement with the help of the topographical map of the Oxus basin.