The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c8.s4.45

c8.s4.45

In mentioning the relics that were removed from Râmagrâma, the Ceylonese chronicles call them one *Drona* measure, and the Siamese two *Dronas*. I presume, therefore, that they were generally known as the *Drona-dhátu*, or “*Drona* of relics.” In Pali this name would be *Dona*, which may probably be the true original of Hwen Thsang’s *To.na.kie*. The full name would have been *Donakadhátu*, or simply *Donaka*, which with *kot* a added would make *Donaka-koṭṭa*, corresponding with the Chinese syllables *To.na-kie-kia-tse*, as well as with the *Dhanakakata* of the inscriptions. Now I have already shown from the dated inscription of *Kánhari* that the name of *Dhanakukata* is as old as A.D. 108, but as it is spelt in all the inscriptions with *dh* and not with *d*, I infer that the legend about the *Drona* of relics is later than that date. We know that it was a common practice amongst the Buddhists to alter the spelling of the local names so as to obtain meanings which might be adapted to legends of their Teacher. Thus *Takshasila*, the "hewn stone," became *Takshu-sira*, or the "cut-off head," and *Adi-chhatra*, or "King Adi's canopy," became *Ahi-chhatra*, or the "serpent canopy," over the head of Buddha. With reference, therefore, to the Nâga guardianship of the *Drona* of relics at Râmagrâma, I think it highly probable that the old name of *Dhanaka* was changed to *Donaka* by the Buddhists, for the special purpose of adapting it to their legend regarding the disposal of the Râmagrâma *Drona* of relics.