The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c6.s3.t6.3

c6.s3.t6.3

There is a dispute between the followers of Siva and Vishnu as to which of these deities gave birth to the Ganges. In the ‘Vishnu Purâna’ it is stated that the Ganges has its rise “in the nail of the great toe of Vishnu’s left foot;”* and the Vaishnavas point triumphantly to the *Hari-ki-charan*, or *Hari-ki-pairi* (Vishnu’s foot-prints), as indisputable evidence of the truth of their belief. On the other hand, the Saivas argue that the proper name of the place is *Hara-dwâra*, or “Siva’s Gate,” and not *Hari-dwâra*. It is admitted also, in the ‘Vishnu Purâna,’ that the *Alakananda* (or east branch of the Ganges) “was borne by Mahadeva upon his head.”† But in spite of these authorities, I am inclined to believe that the present name of Haridwâr or Haradwâr is a modern one, and that the old town near the Gangâdwâra temple was *Máyápura*. Hwen Thsang, indeed, calls it *Mo-yu-lo*, or *Máyura*, but the old ruined town between Haridwâr and Kankhal is still called *Máyápur*, and the people point to the old temple of *Máyá-Devi* as the true origin of its name. It is quite possible, however, that the town may also have been called *Mayura-pura*, as the neighbouring woods still swarm with thousands of peacocks (*Mayúra*), whose shrill calls I heard both morning and evening.