The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c6.s1.t12.4

c6.s1.t12.4

The province is described as being 5000 *li*, or 833 miles, in circuit, which is much too great, unless the whole of the Nagar Pârkar district to the north of the Ran was included, which is most probable, as this tract has always been considered as a part of Kachh, and is still attached to it. Taking its northern boundary as stretching from Umarkot to the neighbourhood of Mount Abu, the whole length of frontier will be upwards of 700 miles. The capital, named *Kie-tsi-shi-fa-lo*, was 30 *li*, or 5 miles, in circuit. This name is rendered as *Khajiswara* by M. Julien, and as *Kachchheswara* by Professor Lassen. But as the Chinese syllable *tse* represents the cerebral *t*, I think that *tsi* must have the same value; and I would therefore read the whole as *Koṭiswara*, which is the name of a celebrated place of pilgrimage on the western shore of Kachh. That this is the place actually intended is rendered certain by the pilgrim's description of its position, which is said to be on the western frontier of the country close to the river Indus, and to the great ocean.[†] This is a most exact description of the position of the holy *Koṭesar*, which is situated on the western frontier of Kachh, on the bank of the Kori branch of the Indus, and close to the great Indian Ocean. This identification is further supported by the statement that in the middle of the city there was a famous temple of Siva. The name of the place is derived from Koṭi-iswara, or the "ten million Iswaras," and refers to the small lingam stones that are found there in great numbers. Iswara is the well-known name of Siva, and the lingam is his symbol.