The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c6.s3.t3.5

c6.s3.t3.5

The name of Thânesar, or Sthâneswara, is said to be derived either from the Sthâna or abode of Iswara, or Mahâdeva, or from the junction of his names of Sthânu and Iswara, or from Sthânu and sar, a “lake.” The town is one of the oldest and most celebrated places in India, but the earliest certain notice of it under this name is by the Chinese pilgrim Hwen Thsang, in A.D. 634, although it is most probably mentioned by Ptolemy as Batan-Kaisara, for which we should, perhaps, read Satan-aisara, for the Sanskrit Sthâneswara. But the place was more famous for its connection with the history of the Pândus, than for its possession of a temple of Mahâdeva, whose worship, in India at least, must be of much later date than the heroes of the Mahâbhârata. All the country immediately around Thânesar, between the Saraswati and Drishadwati rivers, is known by the name of Kuru-Kshetra, that is, the “field or land of Kuru,” who is said to have become an ascetic on the bank of the great holy lake to the south of the town. This lake is called by various names, as Brahmâ-Sar, Râma-hrad, Vâyu, or Vâyava-Sar, and Pavana-Sar. The first name is attributed to Brahma, because he performed a sacrifice on its banks. The second name is derived from *Farasu-Rama*, who is said to have spilt the blood of the *Kshatriyas* in this place. The last two titles are derived from the names of the god of Wind, on account of the pleasant breezes which blew over the waters of the lake during Kuru's period of asceticism. This lake is the centre of attraction for most pilgrims; but all around it for many miles is holy ground, and the number of holy places connected with the Kauravas and Pándavas, and with other heroes of antiquity, is very great indeed. According to popular belief, the exact number is 360, but the list given in the *Kuru-kshetra Mahátmya* is limited to 180 places, of which one-half, or 91, are to the north along the line of the venerated Saraswati river. There are, however, in this list so many omissions of places of acknowledged importance, such as the *Nágahrada* at Pundri, the *Vyásasthala* at Basthali, the *Parásaratirath* at Bâlu, and the *Vishnu-tirath* at Sagga, near Narána, that I feel inclined to believe that the popular number of 360 may not be exaggerated.