The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c8.s9.1

c8.s9.1

From Konkana the pilgrim proceeded to the northwest for 2400 to 2500 *li*, or upwards of 400 miles, to Mo-ho-la-cha, or Mahârâshtra. The capital was 30 *li*, or 5 miles, in circuit, and on the west side touched a large river.* From this description alone I should be inclined to adopt Paithan, or Pratishthâna, on the Godâvari as the capital of Mahârâshtra in the seventh century. It is mentioned by Ptolemy as Baithana, and by the author of the ‘Periplus’ as Plithána, which should no doubt be corrected to Paithana. But the subsequent distance of 1000 li, or 167 miles, westward or north-westward* to Bhâroch is much too small, as the actual distance between Paithan and Bhâroch is not less than 250 miles. M. Vivien de Saint-Martin thinks that Devagiri accords better with the position indicated; but Devagiri is not situated on any river, and its distance from Bhâroch is about 200 miles. I think it more probable that Kalyâni is the place intended, as we know that it was the ancient capital of the Châlukya dynasty. Its position also agrees better with both of Hwen Thsang's distances, as it is about 400 miles to the north-west of Annagundi, and 180 or 190 miles to the south of Bhâroch. To the west of the city also flows the Kailâs river, which at this point is a large stream. Kalyán or Kalyáni is mentioned by Kosmas Indikopleustes in the sixth century as the seat of a Christian bishopric, under the name of Kalliana, and by the author of the ‘Periplus’ in the second century as Kalliena, which had been a famous emporium in the time of Saraganos the elder.† The name of Kaliyana also occurs several times in the Kânhari cave inscriptions, which date from the first and second centuries of the Christian era.