The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c6.s3.t21.5

c6.s3.t21.5

No trace of the name of Kapila has yet been discovered; but I believe that the position of the city can be fixed within very narrow limits by many concurring data. According to the Buddhist chronicles of Tibet, *Kapilavastu* or *Kapilanagara* was founded by some descendants of the solar hero Gotama,† on the bank of a lake near the river Rohini in Kosala. Now the town of Nagar, or *Nagar-khás*, that is "the city," is situated on the eastern bank of the Chando Tâl, near a large stream named Kohâna, a tributary of the Rapti, and in the northern division of Oudh beyond the Ghâgra river, and therefore in Kosala. Its distance and bearing from Srâvasti have already been noted as agreeing most precisely with those stated by the Chinese pilgrims. To the west a small stream named *Sidh* falls into the lake. This name, which means the "perfect or the holy one," is always applied to the sages of antiquity, and in the present instance I think that it may refer to the sage Kapila, whose hermitage was also on the bank of the lake opposite the city. The Gautamas had at first established themselves near the sage's dwelling; but, as the lowing of their kine had disturbed his meditations, they founded their new city of Kapilanagara at some distance, that is on the opposite or eastern end of the lake.