[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Historical geography](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.geography) › [The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.geography.cunningham-1871) › c6.s3.t9.4 # The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c6.s3.t9.4 The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c6.s3.t9.4 - **Language:** English ### [c6.s3.t9.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.geography.cunningham-1871.c6.s3.t9.4) It would appear, however, that the Buddhists must have adopted and altered the legend to do honour to their great teacher, for Hwen Thsang records that outside the town there was a \*Nâga-hrada\*, or “serpent tank,” near which Buddha had preached the law for seven days in favour of the serpent king, and that the spot was marked by a stupa of King Asoka.\* Now, as the only existing stupa at this place is called \*Chaltr\*, I infer that the Buddhist legend represented the \*Nâga\* king after his conversion as forming a canopy over Buddha with his expanded hood. I think, also, that the stupa erected on the spot where the conversion took place would naturally have been called \*Ahi-chhatra\*, or the “serpent canopy.” A similar story is told at Buddha Gaya of the Nâga King \*Muchalinda\*, who, with his expanded hood, sheltered Buddha from the shower of rain produced by the malignant demon \*Mâra\*. - [Previous: c6.s3.t9.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.geography.cunningham-1871.c6.s3.t9.3) - [Next: c6.s3.t9.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.geography.cunningham-1871.c6.s3.t9.5) - [Up: c6.s3.t9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.geography.cunningham-1871.c6.s3.t9) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.geography.cunningham-1871.c6.s3.t9.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.geography.cunningham-1871.c6.s3.t9.4) · Pramāṇa