The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c6.s3.t19.7
The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c6.s3.t19.7
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c6.s3.t19.7
The story of the noble maiden *Visâkhâ* is related at great length in the Ceylonese books.* According to Hardy,* she erected a *Purvváráma* at Srâvastí, which is also mentioned by Hwen Thsang. Now, there was also a *Purvváráma* at Sâketa, and it can hardly be doubted that this monastery was likewise built by her. She was the daughter of Dhananja, a rich merchant, who had emigrated from *Rájagriha* to Sâketa. Now, amongst the oldest inscribed coins which have been discovered only at Ajudhya, we find some bearing the names of Dhana Deva and Visákha-Datta. I mention this because it seems to me to show the probability that the family of Dhananja and Visákhá was of great eminence in Sâketa or Ayodhya; and I infer from the recurrence of their names, as well as from the great celebrity of the lady, that the city may possibly have been called Visákhá after her name.