The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c6.s3.t21.53

c6.s3.t21.53

The Buddhist legends of Barma and Ceylon are unanimous in stating that Prince Siddhârta, on reaching the bank of the stream where he dismissed his attendants and horse, inquired its name, and on being informed that it was called *Anoma*, made a remark in allusion to the name of the river, which is differently rendered by the translators. According to the Burmese legend* the name of the river was *Anauma*, on hearing which the prince remarked, "I will *not* show myself *unworthy* of the high dignity I aspire to." Then "spurring his horse, the fierce animal leaped at once to the opposite bank." Mr. Hardy states the occurrence even more briefly:† "On arriving at the river he inquired its name from the noble, and when he was told that it was *Anoma*, 'illustrious or honourable,' he received it as another omen in his favour." Turnour gives the story at length from the Ceylonese *Attakatha* of the Buddhawanso.‡ Prince Siddhârta inquired of Chhando, "'What is the name of this river?'—'Lord, its name is *Anomá*.' Replying, 'Nor will there be any *Anoma* (inferiority) in my ordination,’ he pressed his heel to the horse and gave him the signal to leap.” Turnour notes that “this remark involves a pun;” but that a pun “is by no means a matter of levity in Buddhistical literature.” By some oversight, Turnour has rendered *anoma* by “inferiority,” whereas its meaning is exactly the reverse, and is correctly given by Hardy and Bishop Bigandet. According to the text of the Burmese and Ceylonese chronicles, it would appear that the name of the river was *Anoma*, the “not inferior,” that is the “superior,” and the prince’s remark must have been that so also would his ordination be *anoma*, or “superior.” But as the name of the river at the present day is *Aumi*, or “inferior,” and as Turnour’s translation of the word as “inferiority” would seem to show that in his copy at least the name was *Oma* or *Auma*, I cannot help suspecting that this is the true reading; and that when the prince was informed that the name of the river was *Auma*, or “inferior,” he remarked “My ordination shall be *anauma*, or “superior.” If the original name of the stream had been *Anoma*, it is difficult to understand how it could have been changed to *Aumi*, which has the very opposite meaning. But if it was properly *Aumi*, that is the “inferior” or lesser branch of the Rapti, and it was arbitrarily changed by the Buddhists to *Anauma*, a return to the use of the original name would have been only a natural consequence of the downfall of Buddhism.