The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c6.s3.t33: Kukkuṭapada.
The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c6.s3.t33
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Kukkuṭapada.
c6.s3.t33.1
From the *Bodhi-drúm* Hwen Thsang crossed the river *Nairanjan*, and visited a stupa named *Gandha-hasti*, or the "Scented Elephant," near which there was a tank and a stone pillar.[*] The ruins of the stupa and the lower portion of the shaft of the pillar still exist at Bakror, on the eastern bank of the Lilâjan river, about 1 mile to the south-east of Bauddha-Gaya.
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Travelling eastward, the pilgrim crossed the river Mo-ho, or Mohana Nadi, and entered a large forest, where he saw another stone pillar. Then proceeding to the north-east for 100 *li*, or nearly 17 miles, he reached the mountain of Kiu-kiu-cha-po-tho, or *Kukkuṭapada*, or "Cock's-foot," which was remarkable for three bold peaks. According to Fa-Hian's account, the Hill of the Cock's-foot was 3 *li*, or half a mile, to the south of the holy tree of Bauddha-Gaya. For 3 *li* we should no doubt read 3 *yojanas*, or 21 miles, which agrees very closely with Hwen Thsang's distance of 17 miles, plus about two miles for the crossings of the two rivers, or altogether 19 miles.
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∗ Julien's 'Hiouen Thsang,' iii. 1. See Map No. XII.
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I have already identified this place with the present *Kurkihár*, which, though omitted in the maps, is perhaps the largest place between the cities of Gaya and Bihâr. It is situated 3 miles to the north-east of Vazirganj, 16 miles to the north-north-east of Gaya, and 20 miles to the north-east of Bauddha-Gaya.* The true name of *Kurkihár* is said to be *Kurak-vihâr*, which I believe to be only a contracted form of *Kukkuṭapada-Vihâra*, or "Cock's-foot Temple," as the Sanskrit *Kukkuṭa* is the same word as the Hindi *Kukkar*, or *Kurak*, a "cock." The present *Kurkihár* therefore corresponds both in name and in position with the famous "Cock's-foot Hill" of the Buddhists. There is, however, no three-peaked hill in its neighbourhood; but about half a mile to the north of the village three rugged hills rise boldly out of the plain, which, as they stand so close together that their bases meet, may fairly be identified with the three-peaked hill of Hwen Thsang. This identification is confirmed by the presence of several ruined mounds, in which numerous Buddhist statues and votive stupas have been found.
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∗ Julien's 'Hiouen Thsang,' iii. 6. See Map No. XII.