The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c5.s4.t22.8

c5.s4.t22.8

Multân is known by several different names, but all of them refer either to Vishnu or to the Sun, the latter being the great object of worship in the famous temple that once crowned the citadel. Abu Rihân mentions the names of *Kasyapa-pura*, *Hansapura*, *Bhágapura*, and *Sambapura*, to which I may add, *Prahládapura* and *Adyasthána*. According to the traditions of the people, *Kasyapa-pura* was founded by Kasyapa, who was the father of the twelve Adityas, or Sun-gods, by Aditi, and of the Daityas, or Titans, by Diti. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the Daitya, named Hiranya-Kasipu, who is famous throughout India for his denial of the omnipresence of Vishnu, which led to the manifestation of the *Nara-sinha*, or "Man-lion" *avatár*. He was followed by his still more famous son *Prahláda*, the ardent worshipper of Vishnu, after whom the city was named *Prahládapura*. His great-grandson, *Bána*, commonly called Bána the *Asur*, was the unsuccessful antagonist of Krishna, who took possession of the kingdom of Multân. Here *Sâmba*, the son of Krishna, established himself in the grove of *Mitra-vana*, and by assiduous devotion to Mitra, or the "Sun," was cured of his leprosy. He then erected a golden statue of Mitra, in a temple named *Adyasthâna*, or the "First Shrine," and the worship of the Sun thus began by *Sâmba*, has continued at Multân down to the present day.