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The Geographical Dictionary of Ancient and Mediaeval India c5.s2: B

The Geographical Dictionary of Ancient and Mediaeval India c5.s2

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B

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Bachmati—The river Bâgmatî in Nepal. Eight out of fourteen great Tirthas of Nepal have been formed by the junction of the Bâgmatî with other rivers. The names of the eight Tirthas are :—Panya, Śânta, Śaṅkara, Râja, Chintâmani, Pramadâ, Śatalakshaṇa, and Jayâ. The source and exit of the Bâgmatî are two other Tirthas. Same as Bhagvatî.

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Badarî—The O-cha-li of Hiuen Tsiang. It has been identified by Cunningham (Anc. Geo., p. 494) with Edar in the province of Gujarât; it was, according to him, Sauvîra of the Pauranic period. According to the Brihat-jyotishârṇava, Edar is a corruption of Ilvadurga. It is situated on a river called Hiranyanadî. The name of Badarî is mentioned in the Dhavala inscription at Vasantagaḍ near Mount Abu (JASB., 1841, p. 821).

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Badarî—See Badarikâsrama.

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Badarikâsrama—Badrinâth in Garwal, United Provinces. It is a peak of the main Himalayan range, about a month’s journey to the north of Hardwar and 55 miles north-east of Śrînagara. The temple of Nara-Nârâyaṇa is built on the west bank near the source of the Bishengaṅgâ (Alakânanda), equidistant from two mountains called Nara and Nârâyaṇa, over the site of a hot-spring called Tapanakuṇḍa, the existence of which, no doubt, led to the original selection of this spot : it is situated on the Gandhamâdana mountain (Asiatic Researches, vol. XI, article x; Mahâbhârata, Śânti, ch. 335). The temple is said to have been built by Śaṅkarâchârya in the eighth century A.D. It was also called Badarî and Biśâlâ Badarî (Mahâbhârata, Vana, ch. 144). For a description of the place, see Asiatic Researches, vol. XI, article x.

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Baḍava—Same as Jvâlâmukhî (see Mahâbhârata, Vana, ch. 82).

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Baggumudâ—Same as Bhâgvatî.

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Bâgmatî—A sacred river of the Buddhists in Nepal. The river is also called Bâchmatî as it was created by the Buddha Krakuchhanda by word of mouth when he visited Nepâla with people from Gauḍa-deśa. Its junctions with the rivers Maradârikâ, Manis-rohinî, Râjamañjarî, Ratnâvalî, Chârumatî, Prabhâvatî and Triveṇî, form the Tirthas called Śânta, Śaṅkara, Râjamañjarî, Pramadâ, Sulakshaṇa, Jayâ and Gokarna respectively (Svayambhû Purâṇa, ch. v; Varâha P., ch. 215. See also Wright’s Hist. of Nepal, p. 90).

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Bahela—Baghelkhand in Central India. It has been placed with Kârusha (Rewa) at Vindhyâmûla (Vâmana P., ch. 13). Rewa is also called Baghilkhand (Thornton’s Gazetteer).

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Bâhika—The country between the Bias and the Sutlej, north of Kekaya. It is another name for Vâlhika (see Mbh., Sabhâ, ch. 27, where Vâlheka is evidently used for Vâlhika) : it was conquered by Arjuna. According to the Mahâbhârata (Karṇa P., ch. 44), the Vâhikas lived generally between the Sutlej and the Indus, but specially on the west of the rivers Râvi and Âpagâ (Ayuk Nadî), and their capital was Śâkala. They were a non-Aryan race and perhaps came from Balkh, the capital of Bactria. According to Pâṇini and Patañjali, Vâhîka was another name for the Panjab (IV, 2, 117; V, 3, 114; Ind. Ant. I, 122). See Takka-deśa. Bâhi and Hika were names of two Asuras of the Bias river after whom the country was called Vâhîka. (Mbh., Karṇa P., ch. 45 and Arch. S. Rep., vol. V). They lived by robbery. According to the Râmâyaṇa (Ayodhyâ K., ch. 78), Vâlhika was situated between Ayodhyâ and Kekaya.

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Bahudā—The river Dhabalā now called Dhumela or Burha-Rapti, a feeder of the Rapti in Oudh. The severed arm of Rishi Likhita was restored by bathing in this river; hence the river is called Bāhudā (Mahābhārata, Śānti, ch. 22; Harivaṃśa, ch. 12). But in the Śiva Purāṇa (Pt. VI., ch. 60), it is said that Gaurī, the grandmother of Māndhātā, was turned into the river Bāhudā by the curse of her husband Prasenajit. It has been identified by Mr. Pargiter with the Rāmgaṅgā which joins the Ganges near Kanauj (see his Mārkaṇḍeya P., ch. 57). See Ikṣumatī. But this identification does not appear to be correct, as it is a river of Eastern India (Mahābhārata, Vana, ch. 87).

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Bahulā—A Sakti Pīṭha near Kāṭwa in Bengal (Tantrachuḍāmaṇi).

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Baibhrāja-Sarovara—Same as Manasa-sarovara (Harivaṃśa, ch. 23).

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Baidisa—See Bidiśā (Brahma P., ch. 27).

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Baidūrya-Parvata—1. The island of Māndhātā in the Narbada, which contains the celebrated temple of Oṃkāranāth, was anciently called Baidūrya-Parvata (Skanda P. Revā-Kh.). 2. It has been identified by Yule (Marco-Polo) with the northern section of the Western Ghats. The Parvata or mountain is situated in Gujarāt near the source of the river Viśvāmitrā which flows by the side of Baroda (Varāhamihira’s Brihat-Saṃhitā, ch. 14; Mahābhārata, Vana, chs. 89, 120). 3. The Satpura range: the mountain contained Baidūrya or Beryl (cat’s eye) mines (Mbh., Vana, chs. 61, 121).

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Baidyanātha—1. See Chiṭabhūmi. It is a place of pilgrimage (Padma P., Uttara Kh. ch. 59). 2. In the district of Kangra in the Panjab. Same as Kira-grāma (Matsya P. ch. 122). [Temples of Baidyanātha are:—In Deogaḍh in the Sonthal Perganas in Bengal (Brihad-Dharma P., pt. I., ch. 14). See Chiṭabhūmi. For the establishment of the god and the name of Baijnāth (Baidyanātha), see Mr. Bradley-Birt’s Story of an Indian Upland, ch. xi. 2. In Dabhoi, Gujarat (Ep. Ind., vol. 1, p. 21). 3. In Kiragrāma on the east of the Kangra district, 30 miles east of Koṭ Kangra on the Binuan river (ancient Kandukā-binduka) in the Panjab (Ep. Ind., vol. 1, p. 97) ].

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Baidyuta-Parvata—A part of the Kailāsa range at the foot of which the Mānasa sarovara lake is situated. It is evidently the Gurla range on the south of lake Mānasa sarovara; the Sarajū is said to rise from this mountain (Brahmāṇḍa P., ch. 51). A Mānasa-sarovara is situated in the Kailāsa mountain (Rāmāyaṇa, Bāla-k., ch. 24) Baidyuta mountain is a part of the Kailāsa range.

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Baihāyansī—Same as Begavatī (Devī-Bhāgavata, VIII, ch. 11; Mack. Col., pp. 142, 211).

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Baijayantī—Banavāsī in North Kanara, the capital of the Kadambas. Same as Krāuñchapura. It is mentioned as Vaijayanta in the Rāmāyaṇa (Ayodhyā K., ch. 9) It has also been identified with Bijayadurg by Sir R. G. Bhandarkar (Early History of the Dekkan, p. 33).

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Baikaṇṭha—A place of pilgrimage about 22 miles to the east of Tinnevelly visited by Chaitanya (Chaitanya-charitāmṛita). It is situated on the river Tāmraparṇī in Tinnevelly It is also called Śrīvaikaṇṭham.

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Bairantya-Nagara—Where Bhāsa places the scene of his drama Avimāraka. It was the capital of a king named Kunti-Bhoja (Ibid, Act VI). It is mentioned in the Harsha-charita (ch. vi) as the capital of Rantideva. See Kunti-Bhoja and Rantipura.

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Bairâṭa-Pattana—The capital of the old kingdom of Govisana, visited by Hiuen Tsiang in the seventh century. It has been identified with Dhikuli in the district of Kumaun (Führer's MAI., p. 40).

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Baisâlî-Besâḍ in the district of Muzaffarpur (Tirhut), eighteen miles north of Hâjipur, on the left bank of the Gaṇḍak (General Cunningham's Anc. Geo., p. 443, and Râmâyaṇa, Âdikâṇḍa, ch. 47). The Râmâyaṇa places Biśâlâ on the northern bank of the Ganges and the Ava. Kalp. (ch. 30) on the river Balgumatî. The Pergana Besâḍ, which is evidently a corruption of Biśâlâ, is situated within the sub-division of Hâjipur. Baisâlî was the name of the country as well as of the capital of the Vrijjis (Vajjis) or Lichchhavis who flourished at the time of Buddha. The southern portion of the district of Muzaffarpur constituted the ancient country of Vaiśâlî. The small kingdom of Vaiśâlî was bounded on the north by Videha and on the south by Magadha (Pargiter's Ancient Countries in Eastern India). It appears from the Lalitavistara that the people of Vaiśâlî and the Vajjis had a republican form of government (see also Mahâ-parinibbâna Sutta). Buddha lived in the Mahâvana (Great Forest) monastery called Kuṭâgâraśâlâ or Kuṭâgâra hall, rendered as "Gabled Pavilion" by Rhys Davids (Chullavagga, ch. v; sec. 13, and ch. x, sec. 1; SBE., vol. XI), which was situated on the Markaṭa-hrada or monkey-tank near the present village of Bakra, about two miles north of Besâḍ, and near it was the tower called Kuṭâgâra (double-storeyed) built over half the body of Ânanda. About a mile to the south of Besâḍ was the Mango-garden presented to Buddha by the courtesan Âmradârikâ called also Ambapâlî. Châpâla was about a mile to the north-west of Besâḍ, where Buddha hinted to Ânanda that he could live in the world as long as Ânanda liked, but the latter did not ask him to live. The town of Baisâlî, which was the capital of Videha at the time of Buddha and Mahâvîra, consisted of three districts: Baisâlî or Beśâlî proper, Kuṇḍapura or Kuṇḍagâma (the birth-place of Mahâvîra, the twenty-fourth or last Tîrthaṅkara of the Jainas), and Bâniyagâma, occupying respectively the south-eastern, north-eastern, and western portions of the city (Dr. Hoernlo's Uvasagadasao, p. 4 n.; Âchârâṅga Sûtra, and Kalpa Sûtra in SBE., vol. XXII, p. 227 f.). The second Buddhist Synod was held at the Bâlukârâma vihâra in 443 B.C., but according to Max Müller in 377 B.C., in the reign of Kâlâśoka, king of Magadha, under the presidentship of Revata who was one of the disciples of Ânanda (Turnour's Mahâvaṃśa, ch. iv). Baisâlî, however, has been identified by Dr. Hoey with Chirâṇḍ, seven miles to the east of Chapra on the Ganges (see Chirâṇḍ in Pt. II). At Beluva (modern Belwa, north-east of Chirâṇḍ), Buddha was seized with serious illness (Mahâ-parinibbâna Sutta, ch. ii). Châpâla (Mahâ-parinibbâna Sutta, ch. ii) has been identified by Dr. Hoey with Telpâ (or Talpâ, a tower) to the east of the town of Chapra, which was built for the Mother of the Thousand Sons. Titariâ, west of Sewan, has been identified by him with the forest, the fire of which was extinguished by the Titar or partridge. The name of Satnarnâlâ has been connected with the seven (sapta) princes who were prepared to fight with the Mallas for the relics of Buddha. Bhâta-pokhar (Bhakta-Pashkara) is shown to be the place where Droṇa divided the relics among the seven princes. The country to the east of the river Daha near Sewan was the country of the Mallas. The river Shi-lai-na-fa-ti (Suvarṇavatî) of Hiuen Tsiang has been identified with the river Sonḍi. Dr. Hoey identifies Besâḍ with the town of the Monster Fish, Vasâlhya (really porpoise) [JASB., vol. LXIX.—"Identification of Kusinara, Vaisali and other Places" and my article on "Chirând in the district of Saran" in *JASB.*, vol. LXXII. The places where Buddha resided while in Vaiśālī are Udena-Mandira, Gautama-Mandira, Saptambaka-Mandira, Bahuputraka-Mandira, Saranda-Mandira, and Châpâla-Mandira (*Mahâ-parinibbâna Sutta*, ch. 3; Spence Hardy's *MB.*, p. 343). For the names of other places in Baiśālī where Buddha resided, see *Divyâvadâna* (Cowell's ed., chs. xi, xii).

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Baiskya—Same as Basyâ (*Brahma P.*, ch. 27).

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Baitaraṇi—1. The river Baitaraṇī in Orissa : it is mentioned in the *Mahâbhârata* as being situated in Kaliṅga (Vana Parva, ch. 113). Jâjpur stands on this river. 2. The river Dantura which rises near Nasik and is on the north of Bassein. This sacred river was brought down to the earth by Paraśurâma (*Padma P.*, Tuṅgârī Mâhâtmya; *Matsya P.*, ch. 113; Da Cunha's *History of Chaul and Bassein*, pp. 117, 122). 3. A river in Kuruk-shetra (*Mbh.*, Vana, ch. 83). 4. A river in Garwal on the road between Kedâra and Badrinâtha, on which the temple of Gopeśvara Mahâdeva is situated.

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Bâkâṭaka—A province between the Bay of Bengal and the Śrî-śaila hills, south of Hyderabad in the Deccan. The Kailakila Yavanas reigned in this province and Vindhyâśakti was the founder of this dynasty (*Vishnu P.*, IV., ch. 24; Dr. Bhau Daji's *Brief Survey of Indian Chronology*). See, however, Kilkila.

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Bakreśvara—Bakranâth, one of the Śakti Pîṭhas in the district of Birbhum in Bengal. It derives its name from Bhairava Bakranâth, the name of the goddess being Mahisha-marddinî. There are seven springs of hot and cold water (*Tantra-chuḍâmaṇi*).

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Bakreśvarî—The river Bâkâ which flows through the district of Burdwan in Bengal.

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Bakshu—The river Oxus (*Matsya P.*, ch. 101; cf. *Chakshu* in *Brahmâṇḍa P.*, ch. 51; see *Śabdakalpadruma* s.v. Nadî) Wuksh, the archetype of Oxus, is at a short distance from the river (Ibn Huakul's *Account of Khorasan* in *JASB.*, XXII, p. 176).

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Bâlhika—1. The country between the Bias and the Sutlej, north of Kekaya (Râmâyaṇa, Ayodhyâ, ch. 78). The Trikâṇḍa-śesha mentions that Vâlhika and Trigarta were the names of the same country (see Trigarta). The Mahâbhârata (Karna Parva, ch. 44) says that the Vâlhikas lived on the west of the Ravi and Âpagâ rivers, i.e., in the district of Jhang (see Bâhika). The Madras, whose capital was Śâkala (Sangala of the Greeks), were also called Vâhikas. Bâhika is the corrupted form of this name. The inscription on the Delhi Iron Pillar mentions the Vâlhikas of Sindhu (JASB., 1838, p. 630). See Bâhika. 2. Balkh—the Bactriana of the Greeks—situated in Turkestan [Brihat saṃhitâ, ch. 18 and JASB., (1838) p. 630]. About 250 B.C., Theodotus or Diodotus, as he was called, the governor of Bactria, revolted against the Seleucid sovereign Antiochus Theos and declared himself king. The Græco-Bactrian dominion was overwhelmed entirely about 126 B.C. by the Yue-chi, a tribe of the Tartars (see Śakadvipa). Balkh was the capital of Bactria comprising modern Kabul, Khurasan, and Bukhara (James Prinsep's Indian Antiquities, vol. I). The palaces of Bactria were celebrated for their magnificence. Zoroaster lived at Bactria in the reign of Vitasa or Gustasp, a king of the Bactrian dynasty of Kâvja, between the sixth and tenth centuries B.C. According to Mr. Kunte, Zarathustra (Zoroaster) is a corruption of Zarat Tvastri or "Praiser of Tvastri," Tvastri being the chiseller and architect of the gods (Kunte's Vicissitudes of Aryan Civilization in India, p 55). From the Brahma Purâṇa (chs. 89 and 132), Tvaṣṭâ and Viśvakarmâ (the architect of the gods) appear to be identical, as well as their daughters Uṣâ and Saṃjñâ, the wife of the Sun. A few heaps of earth are pointed to as the site of ancient Bactria. It is called Um-ul-Bilad or the mother of cities and also Kubbet-ul-Islam (i.e. dome of Islam). It contained a celebrated fire-temple. For the history of the Bactrian kings, and the Græco-Bactrian alphabet, see JASB., IX (1840), pp. 449, 627, 733; for Bactrian coins, see JASB., X, (1842), p. 130.

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Ballalapuri—The capital of Âdiśûra and Ballâla Sena, kings of Bengal, now called Râmpâla or Ballâlabâḍi, about four miles to the west of Munshiganj at Bikramapura (q.v.) in the district of Dacca. The Sena Râjâs, according to General Cunningham (Arch. S. Rep.), retired to this place after the occupation of Gaur by the Mahomedans (Arch. S. Rep., vol. III, p. 163). The remains of Ballâla Sena's fort still exist at this place. It is said to have been founded by Râjâ Râma Pâla of the Pâla dynasty, and a large tank in front of the fort still bears his name. He was the son of Vigrahapâla III and father of Madana-pâla. The five Brahmans, who came to Bengal from Kanauj at the request of Âdiśûra, are said to have vivified a dead post by the side of the gateway of the fort into a Gajâria tree, which still exists, by placing upon it the flowers with which they had intended to bless the king. It should be here observed that Âdiśûra Jayanta or Âdiśûra, who ascended the throne of Gaur in A.D. 732, caused the five Brahmans to be brought from Kanauj for performing a Putreshti sacrifice, and he gave them five villages to live in, namely, Pañchakoti, Harikoṭi, Kâmakoṭi, Kaikagrâma and Baṭagrâma, now perhaps collectively called Pañchasâra, about a mile from Râmpâla. Ballâla's father Vijayasena conquered Bengal and ascended the throne of Gaur in A.D. 1072. Ballâla Sena, who ascended the throne in A.D. 1119, is said to have been the last king of this place. His queens and other members of his family died on the funeral pyre (the spot is still pointed out in the fort,) by the accidental flying of a pair of pigeons carrying the news of his defeat at the moment of his victory over the Yavana chief Bâyâdumba of Manipur, the Bâbâ Âdam of local tradition, who had invaded the town of Bikramapura or, as it was called, Ballâlapuri, at the instigation of Dharma Giri, the mahanta of the celebrated Mahâdeva called Ugramâdhava of Mahâsthâna, whom the king had insulted and banished from his kingdom (Ânanda Bhatta’s Ballâla-Charita, chs. 26 and 27). Bâyâdumba or Bâbâ Âdam’s tomb is half a mile to the north of Ballâla-bâdi. Vikramapura was the birth-place of Dîpaṅkara Śrî Jñâna, the great reformer of Lamaism in Tibet, where he went in A.D. 1038, and was known by the name Atîśa. Râmpâla was also the capital of the Chandra and Varma lines of kings.

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Bâlmîki-Âsrama—Bithur, fourteen miles from Cawnpur, which was the hermitage of Ṛishi Vâlmîki, the author of the Râmâyaṇa. Sîtâ, the wife of Râmachandra, lived at the hermitage during her exile, where she gave birth to the twin sons, Lava and Kuśa. The temple erected in honour of Vâlmîki at the hermitage is situated on the bank of the Ganges (Râmâyaṇa, Uttara, ch. 58). Sîtâ is said to have been landed by Lakshmana, while conveying her to the hermitage, at the Satî-ghât in Cawnpur. A large heavy metallic spear or arrow-head of a greenish colour is shown in a neighbouring temple close to the Brahmâvartta-ghât at Bithur, also situated on the bank of the Ganges, as the identical arrow with which Lava wounded his father, Râmachandra, in a fight for the Aśvamedha horse; this arrow-head is said to have been discovered a few years ago in the bed of the river Ganges in front of the hermitage.

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Bâlubâhini—The river Bâgin in Bundelkhand, a tributary of the Jamunâ [Skanda P., Avantya Kh., (Revâ Kh., ch. 4) ].

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Bâlukesvara—The Malabar Hill near Bombay, where Parasurâma established a Linga called Vâlukesvara Mahâdeva (Skanda P., Sahya Kh., Pt. 2, ch. 1; Ind. Ant., III (1874), p. 248).

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Bâmanasthali—Banthali near Junâgad.

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Bamri—Same as Bâveru. See Babylon.

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Bamsa—Same as Batsya : (Jâtakas, VI, 120).

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Bambadhara—The river Bamśdhârâ in Ganjam, on which Kaligapatam is situated (Pargiter's Mârkaṇḍ. P., ch. 57, p. 305; Imperial Gazetteer of India, s.v. Ganjam and Vamśadhârâ).

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Bamsagulma—A sacred reservoir (kuṇḍa) on the tableland of Amarakantaka, which is situated on the east (at a distance of about four miles and a half) of the source or first fall of the Narbada (Mahâbhârata, Vana, ch. 85).

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Bana—1. The twelve Vanas of Mathurâ-maṇḍala or Braja-maṇḍala are Madhuvana, Tâlavana, Kumudavana, Vṛindâvana, Khadiravana, Kâmyakavana, Bahulâ-vana on the western side of the Jamunâ; Mahâvana, Vilva-vana, Loha-vana, Bhâṇḍira-vana, and Bhadravana on the eastern side of the Jamunâ (Lochana Das's Chaitanya-maṅgala, III,) p. 192; Growse's Mathurâ, p. 51). The Vârâha P. (ch. 153) has Viṣṇusthâna instead of Tâlavana, Kuṇḍa-vana instead of Kumuda-vana, and Bakula-vana instead of Bahulâvana. 2. Same as Araṇya (Śabdakalpadruma). 3. The seven Vanas of Kurukshetra are :—Kâmyaka, Aditi, Vyâsa, Phalakī, Sûrya, Madhu, and Sita (Vâmana P., ch. 34). 4. For the Himalayan vanas or forests as Nandana, Chaitranâtha, etc., see Matsya P., ch. 120.

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Bânapura—1. Mahâbalipura or Mahâbalesvara or the Seven Pagodas, on the Coromandel coast, Chingleput district, 30 miles south of Madras. It was the metropolis of the ancient kings of the race of Paṇḍion. Its rocks are carved out into porticoes, temples and bas-reliefs, some of them being very beautifully executed. The ruins are connected with the Pauranic story of Bali and Vâmana. The monolithic "Rathas" were constructed by the Pallavas of Conjeveram, who flourished in the fifth century A.D. For descriptions of the temples and remains at Mahâbalipura, see JASB., 1853, p. 656. 2. Same as Soṇitapura.

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Banavâsi—1. North Kanara was called by this name during the Buddhist period (Hari vaṃśa, ch. 91). According to Dr. Bühler, it was situated between the Ghats, the Tuṅgabhadrâ and the Baradâ (Introduction to the Vikramâṅkadevacharita, p. 34, note). 2. Same as Krauñchapura in North Kanara. A town called Banaunsei (Banavâsi) on the left bank of the Varadâ river, a tributary of the Tuṅgabhadrâ, in North Kanara mentioned by Ptolemy (McCrindle's Ptolemy, p. 176) still exists (Lists of the Antiquarian Remains in the Bombay Presidency, vol. VIII, p. 188). Vanavâsi was the capital of the Kadamba dynasty (founded by Mayûravarman) up to the sixth century when it was overthrown by the Chalukyas. Aśoka sent here a Buddhist missionary named Rakkhita in 245 B.C. Same as Jayantī and Vaijayantī. In the Vanavâsi-Mâhâtmya of the Skanda Purâṇa, Vanavâsi is said to have been the abode of the two Daityas, Madhu and Kaiṭabha, who were killed here by Viṣṇu. The temple of Madhukesvara Mahâdeva at this place was built by the elder brother Madhu (Da Cunha's History of Chaul and Bassein).

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Banayu—Arabia (T. N. Tarakavâchaspati’s Śabdastomamahânidhi ; Râmâyaṇa, Âdi, ch. vi). It was celebrated for its breed of horses (Arthaśâstra of Kauṭilya, Bk. II, Aśvâdhyaksha). But the ancient name of Arabia as mentioned in the Behistun inscription (JRAS., vol. XV) was Arbaya. It appears from Ragozin’s Assyria that the ancient name of Armenia was Van before it was called Urartu by the Assyrians. But Armenia was never celebrated for its horses. The identification of Vanâyu with Arabia appears to be conjectural (see Griffith’s Râmâyaṇa, Vol. I, p. 42 note). Âraba (Arabia) has been mentioned by Varâhamihira who lived in the sixth century A.D. (Bṛihat-saṁhitâ, XIV, 17). The Padma P. (Svarga, Âdi, ch. iii) mentions the Vânâyavas (people of Vanâyu) among the tribes of the north-western frontier of India.

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Banga—Bengal. “In Hindu geography,” says Dr. Francis Buchanan, “Banga, from which Bengal is a corruption, is applied to only the eastern portion of the delta of the Ganges as Upabanga is to the centre of this territory, and Aṅga to its western limits” (Beveridge’s “Buchanan Records” in the Calcutta Review, 1894, p. 2). According to Dr. Bhau Daji, Banga was the country between the Brahmaputra and the Padmâ (Literary Remains of Dr. Bhau Daji). It was a country separated from Puṇḍra, Sumha and Tâmralipta at the time of the Mahâbhârata (Sabhâ P., ch. 29). Bengal was divided into five provinces : Puṇḍra or North Bengal ; Samataṭa or East Bengal ; Karṇa-suvarṇa or West Bengal ; Tâmralipta or South Bengal ; Kâmarupa or Assam (Hiuen Tsiang). According to General Cunningham, the province of Bengal was divided into four separate districts after the Christian era. This division is attributed to Ballâla Sena : Barendra and Banga to the north of the Ganges, and Râḍha and Bâgḍi to the south of the river (but see JASB., 1873, p. 211); the first two were separated by the Brahmaputra and the other two by the Jalingi branch of the Ganges. Barendra, between the Mahânandâ and Karotoyâ corresponds to Puṇḍra, Banga to East Bengal, Râḍha (to the west of the Bhâgîrathî) to Karṇa-suvarṇa and Bâgḍi (Samataṭa of Hiuen Tsiang and Bhâṭi of the Akbarnâma) to South Bengal (Arch. S. Rep., vol. XV, p. 145, and see also Gopâla Bhaṭṭa’s Ballâla-charitam, Pûrva-khaṇḍa, vs. 6, 7). Mr. Pargiter is of opinion that Banga must have comprised the modern districts of Murshidabad, Nadia, Jessore, parts of Râjshâhî, Pabna and Faridpur (“Ancient Countries in Eastern India” in JASB., 1897, p. 85). At the time of Âdiśûra, according to Devâvara Ghaṭaka, Bengal was divided into Râḍha, Banga, Barendra and Gauḍa. At the time of Keśava Sena, Banga was included in Pauṇḍravarddhana (see Edilpur Inscription : JASB., 1838, p. 45). The name of Banga first occurs in the Aitareya Âraṇyaka of the Ṛig-Veda. According to Sir George Birdwood, Banga originally included the districts of Burdwan and Nadia. Banga was called Bângâlâ even in the thirteenth century (Wright’s Marco Polo). For further particulars, see Bengal in Part II of this work. Dr. Râjendralâla Mitra (Indo-Aryans, vol. II, ch. 13) gives lists of the Pâla and Sena kings [see also Ep. Ind., vol. 1, p. 305] (Deopârâ Inscriptions regarding the Senas) : Ibid., vol. 11, p. 160 (Bâdal Pillar Inscription) ; Ibid., p. 347 (Vaidyadeva Inscription at Benares) ; JASB., 1838, p. 40 (Edilpur Inscription of Keśava Sena from Bakarganj). According to the copperplate inscription of Lakshmaṇa Sena found in Sirajganj in the district of Pabna, it appears that the Sena kings were Kshatriyas who came from Karṇâṭa. For the ancient trade and commerce of Bengal, see Mr. W. H. Schoff’s Periplus ; Bernier’s Travels, p. 408 ; Tavernier’s Travels, Bk. III ; Dr. N. Law’s article, Modern Review, 1918. See Saptagrâma and Karṇasuvarṇa.

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Banijagrama—Same as Baniyagama.

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Baniyagama—Vaiśālī (or Besāḍ) in the district of Muzaffurpur (Tirhut), in fact, Baniyāgāma was a portion of the ancient town of Vaiśālī (Dr Hoernle’s Uvā. sagadasāo). See Kundagama.

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Banji—Same as Karura, the capital of Chera or Kerala, the Southern Konkan or the Malabar Coast (Caldwell’s Drav Comp. Gram., 3rd ed., p 96).

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Banjula—The river Manjerā, a tributary of the Godāvarī. Both these rivers rise from the Sahya mountain or Western Ghats (Matsya P., ch 113). Bañjulā is mentioned as Mañjulā in the Mahābhārata, Bhīṣma P., ch 9.

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Bankshu—Same as Chakshu (Bhāgavata P., v 17).

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Bara—Same as Baruna (Ira Kalp, 99).

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Barada—1. The river Wardha in the Central Provinces (Mālavikāgnimitra, Act V; Agni P., ch 109, Mbh Vana, ch 85, Padma P., Ādi, ch 39). 2. A tributary of the Tungabhadrā, on which the town of Vanavāsī, the abode of the two Daityas Madhu and Kaiṭabha, is situated. See Vanavāsī and Vedavatī.

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Baraha-kshetra—1. Barāmūla in Kāśmīra on the right bank of the Jhelum, where Vishnu is said to have incarnated as Varāha (boar). There is a temple of Ādi-Varāha (See Sukara-kshetra). 2. Another place of the same name exists at Nāthpur on the Kusī in the district of Purnea below the Triveni. See Manā-Kausika (JASB, XVII, 638). It is the Kokāmukha of the Varāha Purāṇa sacred to Varāha, one of the incarnations of Vishnu (Varāha P., ch 140). See Kokamukha.

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Baraha-Parvata—A hill near Barāmūla in Kāśmīra [Vishnu Samhitā, ch 85, Institutes of Vishnu, SBE, vol VII, p 256, note].

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Barana—1. Bulandshahr near Delhi in the Punjab (Growse, JASB, 1883). This town is said to have been founded by Janmejaya, son of Parikshit and great-grandson of Arjuna (Bulandshahr by Growse, in the Calcutta Review, 1883, p 342). At Ahar, 21 miles north-east of Bulandshahr, he performed the snake-sacrifice (JASB, 1883, p 274). A Jaina inscription also shows that it was called Uchchanagara (Dr Buhler, Ep Ind., vol I, p 375). 2. Same as Acrnos (Ind. Ant, I, 22).

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Barana—Same as Baruna (Kūrma P., I).

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Barnasa—Same as Parnāsā.

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Baranasi—Benares situated at the junction of the rivers Barnu and Asi, from which the name of the town has been derived (Vāmana P., ch III). It was formerly situated at the confluence of the Ganges and the Gumti (Mbh, Anuśasana, ch 30). It was the capital of Kāśī (Rāmāyaṇa, Uttara, ch 48). At the time of Buddha, the kingdom of Kāśī formed a part of the kingdom of Kośala (see Kāśī). According to James Prinsep, Benares or Kāśī was founded by Kāśa or Kāśīrāja, a descendant of the Pururavas, king of Pratiṣṭhāna (see Pratiṣṭhāna). Kāśīrāja’s grandson was Dhanvantari, Dhanvantari’s grandson was Divodāsa, in whose reign Buddhism superseded Siva-worship at Benares, though it appears that the Buddhist religion was again superseded by Saivism after a short period. In 1027, Benaras became part of Gauḍa, then governed by Mahîpâla, and Buddhism was again introduced in his reign or in the reign of his successors Sthirapâla and Vasantapâla. Benares was wrested from the Pâla kings by Chandra Deva (1072-1096) and annexed to the kingdom of Kanauj. Towards the close of the twelfth century, Benares was conquered by Muhammad Ghuri who defeated Jaya Chand of Kanauj (James Prinsep's *Benares Illustrated*, Introduction, p. 8; *Vâyu P.*, Uttara, ch. 30). In the seventh century, it was visited by the celebrated Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsiang.

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He has thus described the city and its presiding god Viśveśvara, one of the twelve Great Liṅgas of Mahâdeva: "In the capital there are twenty Deva temples, the towers and halls of which are of sculptured stone and cut wood. The foliage of trees combines to shade (the sites), whilst pure streams of water encircle them. The statue of Deva Maheśvara, made of *teou-shih* (brass), is somewhat less than 100 feet high. Its appearance is grave and majestic, and appears as though really living." The *Padma P.* (Uttara, ch. 67) mentions the names of Viśveśvara, Bindumâdhava, Maṇikarṇikâ, and Jñânavâpî in Kâśî (Benares). The present Viśveśvara, which is a mere *Liṅga*, dates its existence since the original image of the god, described by Hiuen Tsiang, was destroyed by the iconoclast Aurangzebe and thrown into the Jñânavâpî, a well situated behind the present temple. There can be no doubt that Benares was again converted into a Buddhist city by the Pâla Râjâs of Bengal, and Śiva-worship was not restored till its annexation in the eleventh century by the kings of Kanauj, who were staunch believers in the Paurâṇic creed. The shrines of Adi-Viśveśvara, Veṇimâdhava, and the Bakarya-kuṇḍa were built on the sites of Buddhist temples with materials taken from those temples. The temple of Adi-Keśava is one of the oldest temples in Benares: it is mentioned in the *Prabodha-Chandrodaya Nâṭaka* (Act IV) written by Kṛiṣhṇa Miśra in the eleventh century A.D.

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The names of Mahâdeva Tilabhâṇḍeśvara and Daśâśvamedheśvara are also mentioned in the *Śiva Purâṇa* (Pt. 1, ch. 39). The Maṇikarṇikâ is the most sacred of all cremation ghats in India, and it is associated with the closing scenes of the life of Râjâ Hariśchandra of Ayodhyâ, who became a slave to a Caṇḍâla for paying off his promised debt (Kṣhemeśvara's *Caṇḍa-Kauśika*; *Mârkaṇḍeya P.*, ch. viii). The old fort of Benares which was used by the Pâla Râjâs of Bengal and the Rathore kings of Kanauj, was situated above the Râj-ghâṭ at the confluence of Barṇâ and the Ganges (Bholanath Chunder's *Travels of a Hindu*, vol. I). Benares is one of the Pîṭhas where Satî's left hand is said to have fallen, and is now represented by the goddess Annapûrṇâ, but the *Tantrachūḍāmaṇi* mentions the name of the goddess as Viśâlâkṣhî. There are two Brahmanical Universities in ancient India, one at Benares and the other at Takṣhaśilâ (Taxila) in the Punjab. For the observatory at Benares and the names of the instruments with sketches, see Hooker's *Himalayan Journals*, vol. I, p. 67. Benares is said to be the birth-place of Kaśyapa Buddha, but Fa Hian says that he was born at Too-wei, which has been identified by General Cunningham with Tadwa or Tandwa (Legge's Fa Hian, ch xxi; Arch S. Rep, XI), nine miles to the west of Srâvastî. Kaśyapa died at Gurupada hill (see Gurupâda-giri).

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But according to the Aṭṭhakathâ of Buddhaghosha, Kaśyapa (Kassapa) was born at Banaras and died at Mrigadâva or modern Sarnath (JASB., 1838, p 796) In the Yuvanjaya Jātaka (Jātakas IV, 75), the ancient names of Banaras are said to have been Surandhana, Sudarśana, Brahmavarddhana, Pushpavatî and Ramya

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Baranasi-Kataka—Kaṭaka in Orissa, at the confluence of the Mahânadî and the Kâṭjurî, founded in A.D 989 by Nṛipa Keśarî, who reigned between A D. 941 and 953. He removed his seat of government to the new capital According to tradition, his capital had been Chaudwar which he abandoned, and constructed the fort at Kaṭaka called Baḍabâṭî The remains of the fort with the ditch around it still exist. For a description of the fort (Baḍabâṭî), see Kittoe's "Journal of a Trip to Cuttack" in JASB 1838, p 203 The former capital of the Keśarî kings were Bhuvaneśvara and Jâjpur (Hunter's Orissa and Dr R. L. Mitra's Antiquities of Orissa, vol II, p 164) Fleet's identification of Vinîtapura and Yayâtinagara of the inscriptions with Kaṭak appears to be very doubtful The strong embankment of the Kâṭjurî is said to have been constructed by Marhaṭ Keśarî in A D. 1906 The town contains a beautiful image of Krishna known by the name of Sakshî Gopâla (Chaitanya charitâmṛita, II, 5)

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Baranavata—Barnawa, nineteen miles to the north-west of Mirat where an attempt was made by Duryodhana to burn the Pâṇḍuvas (Führer's MAI., and Mbh, Âdi, ch 148). It was one of the five villages demanded by Krishna from Duryodhana on behalf of Yudhishṭhira (Mbh Udyoga, ch 82)

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Barddhamana—1 From the Kathâ sarit-sâgara (chs 24, 25), Barddhamâna appears to have been situated between Allahabad and Banaras, and north of the Vindhya hills It is mentioned in the Mârkaṇḍeya Purâṇa and Vetâla-panchaviṃśati. 2 Barddhamâna was called Asthikagrama because a Yaksha named Sâlapâṇi had collected there an enormous heap of bones of those killed by him. Mahâvîra, the last Jaina Tîrthankara, passed the first rainy season at Barddhamâna after attaining Kevalinship (Jacobi's Kalpasutra, SBE, vol XXII, p, 261). From a copper-plate inscription found at Banskbera, 25 miles from Shahjahanpur, it appears that Barddhamâna is referred to as Barddhamâna-koṭi (see also Markaṇḍeya I, ch 58), where Harshavardhana had his camp in A D 638 Barddhamana koṭi is the present Bardhankoṭi in Dinajpur Hence Barddhamâna is the same as Bardhankoṭi Barddhamana is mentioned as a separate country from Banga (Devi P, ch 46) 3 Barddhamana (Vadhamâna) is mentioned in Spence Hardy's Manual of Buddhism, p 430, as being situated near Danta. 4 The Lalitpur inscription in JASB. 1883, p 67, speaks of another town of Barddhamâna in Malwu 5 Another Bardhamâna or Barddhamânapur was situated in Kathiâwâd it is the present Vaḍvâna, where Merutunga, the celebrated Jaina scholar, composed his Prabandha-chintâmaṇi in A D, 1423 he was also the author of Mahâpurushacharita, Shaddarśanavichâra, &c. (Merutuṅga's Therāvalī by Dr. Bhau Daji; Prabandha-chintāmaṇi, Tawney's Trans., p. 134, and his Preface, p. vii.)

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Barendra—Barendra (Devī P., ch. 39), in the district of Maldah in Bengal, comprising the Thānās of Gomastapur, Nawabganj, Gajol and Malda: it formed a part of the ancient kingdom of Puṇḍra. It was bounded by the Gaṅgā, the Mahānandā Kāmrup, and the Karatoyā. Its principal town was Mahāsthāna, seven miles north of Bogra, which was also called Barendra (JASB., 1875, p. 183). See Puṇḍra-vardhana.

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Bannu—Bannu in the Punjab: it is the Falanu of Hiuen Tsiang and Pohna of Fa Hian. It is mentioned by Pāṇini (Cunningham's Anc. Geo., p. 84; Ind. Ant. I, p. 22).

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Barshana—Barshan, near Bharatpur, on the border of the Chhāta Pargaṇā in the district of Mathurā, where Rādhikā was removed by her parents Bṛishabhānu and Kirat from Rāval, her birth-place. Rādhikā's love for Kṛishṇa an incarnation of Nārāyaṇa has been fully described in the Purāṇas. See Āshṭigrāma. Barshāṇa perhaps a corruption of Bṛishabhānupura. Barshāṇ, however, was also called Barasānu, a hill on the slope of which Bṛishabhānupura was situated.

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Barsha Parvata—The six Barsha Parvatas are Nēla, Nishadha, Sveta, Hemakūṭa, Himavān, and Śṛiṅgavān (Varāha P., ch. 75).

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Bartraghni—Same as Britaghni and Betrabati 2.

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Baruna—The river Barṇā in Banaras (Mahābhārata, Bhīshma, ch. 9).

c5.s2.66

Baruna-tirtha—Same as Salilārāja-tirtha (Mbh., Vana, 82).

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Barusha—The Po-lu-sha of Hiuen Tsiang. It has been identified with Shahbazgarhi in the Yusufzai country, forty miles north-east of Peshawar. A rock edict of Aśoka exists at this place.

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Basantaka-kshetra—Same as Bindubasini (Bṛihaddharma P., I, 6, 14).

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Basati—The country of the Basatis or Besatae, a Tibeto-Burman tribe, living about the modern Gangtok near the eastern border of Tibet (Mbh., Sabhā, ch. 51; Mr. W.H. Schoff's Periplus, p. 279). McCrindle, on the authority of Hemachandra's Abhidhāna, places it between the Indus and the Jhelum (Invasion of India, p. 156 note). It comprised the district of Rawalpindi.

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Basika—Same as Basya (Matsya P., ch. 113).

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Basistha-asrama—1. The hermitage of Rishi Bashishṭha was situated at Mount Ābu (see Arbuda). 2. At a place one mile to the north of the Ayodhyā station of the Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway. 3. On the Sandhyāchala mountain (see Kāmarupa in Assam (Kālīkā Purāṇa, ch. 51).

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Basishthi—1. The river Gomatī (Hemakosha). 2. A river in the Ratnagiri district, Bombay Presidency (Bomb. Gaz., X, pp. 6-8; Mbh. Vana, ch. 84).

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Bastapatha-kshetra—See Cirinagara.

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Basudhara-tirtha—The place where the Alakanandā (q.v.) has got its source, about 3 miles north of Badrinath, near the village Manā.

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Basya—Bassein in the province of Bombay. Baśyâ is mentioned in one of the Kanheri inscriptions. It was included in Barâlâtâ (Barâr), one of the seven divisions of Paraśurâma-kshetra. The principal place of pilgrimage in it is the Bimala or Nirmala Tirtha mentioned in the Skanda Purâna. The Bimaleśvara Mahâdeva was destroyed by the Portuguese (Da Cunha's Hist. of Chaul and Bassein). It was the kingdom of the Silâhâras, from whom it passed into the hands of the Yâdavas in the thirteenth century (JRAS, vol. II, p 380).

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Batadhana—A country mentioned in the Mahâbhârata (Sabhâ, ch. 32) as situated in Northern India. It was conquered by Nakula, one of the Pândavas. It has been supposed to have been the same as Vethadvîpa of the Buddhist period (see Vethadvipa); see JASB 1902, 161. But this identification does not appear to be correct, as in the Mahâbhârata (Bhishma P. ch. 9. Sabhâ P. ch 130), in the Mârkandeya Purâna, ch. 57 and in other Purânas, Bâtadhâna has been named between Bâlhika and Abhîra, and placed on the west of Indraprastha or Delhi; so it appears to be a country in the Punjab. Hence it may be identified with Bhatnair. Bâtadhâna has, however, been identified with the country on the east side of the Sutlej, southwards from Ferozepur (Pargiter's Mârkandeya P p. 312, note).

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Batapadrapur—Baroda, the capital of the Gaikwar, where Kumârapâla fled from Cambay (Bhagavanlal Indraji's Early History of Gujarat, p 183).

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Batapi—See Batapipura.

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Batapipura—Badami near the Malprabha river, a branch of the Krishnâ, in the Kaladgi district, now called the Bijapur district, in the province of Bombay, three miles from the Badami station of the Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway. It was the capital of Pulakesi I, king of Mahârâshtra (Mo-ho-la cha of Hiuen Tsiang) in the middle of the sixth century A. D., he was the grandson of Jaya Simha, the founder of the Châlukya dynasty. He performed the Aśvamedha sacrifice. It was Pulakesi II, the grandson of Pulakesi I who defeated Harshavardhana or Silâditya II of Kanauj. There are three caves of Brahmanical excavation, one of which bears the date A D 579, and one Jaina cave temple, A D 650, at Badami. One of the caves contains a figure composed of a bull and an elephant in such a way that when the body of one is hid, the other is seen (Burgess's Belgam and Kaladgi Districts, p. 16). Bâtâpi is said to have been destroyed by the Pallava king Narasimhavarman I (Ep Ind., vol. III, p 277). The name of Bâtâpipura was evidently derived from Bâtâpi, the brother of Ilvala (of the city of Manimati—see Ind. Ant., XXV, p 163, note). Bâtâpi was killed by Rishi Agastya on his way to the south (Mbh, Vana ch. 96). See Ilvalapura.

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Batessa—Same as Batesvaranatha (Agni P ch 109).

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Batesvaranatha—Same as Silasagama. The temple of Bateśvaranâtha is situated four miles to the north of Kahalgaon (Colgong) on the Pâtharghâtâ Hill called also Kusdi Hill. The Uttara Purâna describes the rock excavations and temple of Bateśvaranâtha at this place (Francklin's Palibothra). The rock excavations and ruins at Pâtharghâtâ are the remains of the Buddhist monastery named Bikramaśilâ Saṅghârâma (see Bikramaśila Vihâra).

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Batsya—A country to the west of Allahabad. It was the kingdom of Râjâ Udayana; its capital was Kausâmbî (see Kausambi). At the time of the Râmâyaṇa (I, 52), its northern boundary was the Ganges.

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Batsyapattana—Kausâmbî, the capital of Batsya-deśa, the kingdom of Batsya Râjâ Parantapa and Udayana (Kathâsarit-sâgara). See Kausambi.

c5.s2.84

Bedagarbhapuri—Buxar, in the district of Shahabad in the province of Bengal (Brahmaṇḍa P., Pūrva Kh., chs. 1—5 called Vedagarbha-mahat; and Skanda P., Suta-saṃhitā, IV, Yajña Kh., 24). The word Buxar, however, seems to be the contraction of Vyâghrasara, a tank attached to the temple of Gaurî-śaṅkara situated in the middle of the town. Same as Visvamitra-asrama, Siddhasrama, Vyaghrasara and Vyaghrapura.

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Beda-parvata—A hill in Tirukkalukkunram in the Madras Presidency, on which is situated the sacred place called Pakshî-tîrtha. See Pakshi-tirtha (Devi P., ch. 39; Ind. Ant., X, 198).

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Bedaranya—A forest in Tanjore, five miles north of Point Calimere: it was the hermitage of Rishi Agastya (Debi-Bhāgavata, VII, 38; Gangoly's South Indian Bronzes, p. 16).

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Bedasmriti—It is the same as Bedasruti. (Mbh., Bhishma, ch. 9).

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Bedasruti—1. The river Baita in Oudh between the rivers Tonse and Gumti (Râmâyaṇa, Ayōdhyâ, ch. 49). 2. The river Besulâ in Malwa. The name of Bedaśruti does not appear in many of the Puraṇas, only the river Bedasmṛiti being mentioned.

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Bedavati—1. The river Hagari, a tributary of the Tuṅgabhadrâ in the district of Bellary and Mysore [Skanda P., Sahyâdri kh.; Ind. Ant. vol. XXX (Fleet)]. But see Vârâha P., ch. 85. The river Baradâ or Bardâ, southern tributary of the Kṛishṇa, the Baradâ of the Agni Purâṇa, CIX, 22 (Pargiter's Mârkandeya P., p, 303)—See Barada.

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Bedisa-giri—Same as Bessanagara (Oldenberg's Dīpavaṃsa) and Bidisa or Bhilsa, 26 miles north-east of Bhopal in the Gwalior State.

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Bega—Same as Begavati (Padma P., Srishti, ch. II).

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Begavati—1. The river Baiga or Bygi in the district of Madras (Śiva P., Bk. II, ch. 10; Padma P., Uttara, ch. 84; Mackenzie Collection, pp. 142, 211). The town of Madura is situated on the bank of this river; 2. Kâñchipura or Conjeveram stands on the northern bank of river called Begavatî

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Behat—The river Jhelum in the Punjab.

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Beltura—Berul, Yerulâ, Elura, or Ellara in the Nizam's Dominion (Ind. Ant., XXII, p. 193; Bṛihat-saṃhita, XIV, 14).

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Bena—The river Wain-Gaṅgâ in the Central Provinces (Padma P., Âdî kh., ch. 3). Same as Benva. It is a tributary of the Godâvarî [Mbh., Vana, ch. 85; Padma P., Svarga (Âdi), ch. 19].

c5.s2.96

Benakataka—Warangal, the capital of Telingana or Andhra. (*Literary Remains of Dr. Bhau Daji*, p. 107).

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Bengi—The capital of Andhra, situated north-west of the Elur lake between the Godâvarî and the Kṛiṣhṇa in the Kistna district. It is now called Begî or Pedda-Begî (*Sewell's Sketch of the Dynasties of Southern India*, p. 99). Viṣhṇuvardhana, brother of Pulakeśî II, founded here a branch of the Chalukya dynasty in the seventh century A.D. (see *Andhra*). Its name is mentioned in the *Vikramâṅkadevacharita*, VI, p. 26 (see Buhler's note in the *Introduction* to this work at p. 35). From the capital, the country was also called Bengi-deśa which according to Sir W. Elliot, comprised the districts between the Kṛiṣhṇa and the Godâvarî (*JRAS.*, vol. IV). It is now called the Northern Circars (*Dr. Wilson's Indian Castes*, vol. II, p. 88). Its original boundaries were, on the west the Eastern Ghats, on the north the Godâvarî and on the south the Kṛiṣhṇa (*Bomb. Gaz.*, vol. I, Pt. II, p. 280).

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Beni—1. A branch of the Kṛiṣhṇa (*Padma P.*, Uttara, ch. 74), same as Benva. 2. The Kṛiṣhṇa itself.

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Beni-ganga—The river Wain-Gaṅgâ: see Benva (*Bṛihat-Śiva P.*, Uttara, ch. 20).

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Benkata-giri—The Tirumalai mountain near Tripati or Tirupati in the north Arcot district, about seventy-two miles to the north-west of Madras, where Râmânuja, the founder of the Srî sect of the Vaiṣhṇavas, established the worship of Viṣhṇu called Veṅkaṭasvâmî or Bâlâjî Bîśvanâtha in the place of Śiva in the twelfth century of the Christian era: same as Tripadi. See Srirangam. The *Padma Purâṇa* (Uttara kh., ch. 90) mentions the name of Râmânuja and the Veṅkaṭa hill. *See Tripadi*. Beṅkaṭâdri is also called Seśhâdri (*Ep. Ind.*, vol. III, p. 240; *Skanda P.*, Viṣhṇu kh., chs. 16, 35). For the list of kings of Veṅkaṭagiri, see *JASB.*, (1838), p. 516.

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Benugrama—Same as Sugandhavarti

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Benuvana-vihara—The monastery was built by king Bimbisâra in the bamboo-grove situated on the north-western side of Râjgir and presented to Buddha where he resided when he visited the town after attaining Buddhahood. It has been stated in the *Mahâvagya* (1, 22, 17) that Veṇuvana, which was the pleasure-garden of king Seniya (Śreṇika) Bimbisara was not too far from the town of Râjagṛiha nor too near it (*see Girivrajapura*). It was situated outside the town at a short distance from the northern gate at the foot of the Baibhâra hill (*Beal's Fo-Kwa-Ki*, ch. xxx; *Ava. Kalp.*, ch. 39).

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Benva—1. The Benâ, a branch of the Kṛiṣhṇa, which rises in the Western Ghats. Same as Beni. 2. The Kṛiṣhṇa. 3. The river Wain-Gaṅgâ, a tributary of the Godâvarî, which rises in the Vindhyâpâda range (*Mârkaṇḍeya P.*, ch, 57). Same as Bena. It is called Beni Gaṅgâ (*Bṛihat-Śiva P.*, Uttara, ch. 20),

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Benya—Same as Bena: the river Wain-Gaṅgâ.

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Bessanagara—Besnagar, close to Sanchi in the kingdom of Bhopal, at the junction of the Besali or Bes river with the Betva, about three miles from Bhilsa. It is also called Chetiya, Chetiyanagara, or Chetyagiri (Chaityagiri) in the *Mahâvaṃśa*. It was the ancient capital of Daśârṇa. Aśoka married Devî, the daughter of the chieftain of this place, on his way to Ujjayinî of which place, while a prince, he was nominated governor. By Devî, he had twin sons, Ujjeniya and Mahinda and a daughter Saṅghâmitta. The two last named were sent by their father to introduce Buddhism into Ceylon with a branch of the Bodhi-tree of Buddha-Gayâ. Aśoka was the grandson of Chandragupta of Pâṭaliputra, and reigned from 273 to 232 B.C. A column was discovered at Besnagar, which from the inscription appears to have been set up by Heliodorous of Taxila who was a devotee of Viṣṇu, as Garuḍa dhvaja, in the reign of Antialkidas, a Bactrian king who reigned about 150 B.C. See Chetiyagiri.

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**Bethadipa**—It has not been correctly identified, but it seems to be the modern Bethia to the east of Gorakhpur and south of Nepal. The Brahmins of Beṭhadîpa obtained an eighth part of the relics of Buddha’s body after his death (Mahâparinibbâna Sutta, ch. vi) See Kusinagara. It seems that the extensive ruins consisting of three rows of earthen barrows or huge conical mounds of earth, about a mile to the north-east of Lauriya Navandgaḍ (Lauriya Nandangaḍ) and 15 miles to the north-west of Bethia in the district of Champaran, are the remains of the stûpa which had been built over the relics of Buddha by the Brahmins of Beṭhadîpa. At a short distance from these ruins stands the lion pillar of Aśoka containing his edicts. Dîpa in Beṭhadîpa is evidently a corruption of Dhâpa, which again is a corruption of Dâgaba or Dhâtugarbha or Stûpa containing Buddha’s relics [cf. Mahasthana, the ancient name of which (Sîtâ-dhâpa or Sîtâ-dhâtugarbha) was changed into Sîtâ-dîpa]. The change of Dipa into Dia is an easy step. Hence it is very probable that from Betha-dia comes Beṭhiâ.

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**Betravati**—1. The river Betva in the kingdom of Bhopal, an affluent of the Jamunâ (Meghadûta, Pt. I, 25), on which stands Bhilsa or the ancient Vidiśâ. 2. The river Vâtrak, a branch of the Sâbarmatî in Gujarat (Padma P., Uttara, ch. 53, on which Kaira (ancient Kheṭaka) is situated [JASB. (1838) p. 908]. Same as Bitraghni and Bartraghni.

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**Bhaddiya**—It is also called Bhadiya and Bhadiyanagara in the Pâli books. It may be identified with Bhadaria, eight miles to the south of Bhagalpore [see my “Notes on Ancient Aṅga” in JASB., X, (1914), p. 337]. Mahâvîra, the last of the Jaina Tîrthaṅkaras, visited this place and spent here two Pajjusanas (rainy-season retirement). It was the birth-place of Viśâkhâ, the famous female disciple of Buddha (see Sravasti). She was the daughter of Dhanañjaya and granddaughter of Meṇḍaka, both of whom were treasurers to the king of Aṅga. Buddha visited Bhaddya Mahâvagga, V. 8, 3), when Viśâkha was seven years old and resided; in the Jâtiyavâna for three months and converted Bhaddaji, son of a rich merchant [Mahâvagga, vol. II, p. 229]; V, 8; Mahâ-Panâda-Jâtaka (No. 264) in the Jâtakas (Camb. Ed.). Viśâkhâ’s father removed to a place called Sâketa, 21 miles to the south of Srâvastî, where she was married to Puṇavarddhana or Punyavardhana, son of Migâra, the treasurer of Prasenajit, king of Srâvastî. She caused Migâra, who was a follower of Nigrantha Nâthaputra, to adopt the Buddhist faith, and hence she was called Mîgâramâtâ (Mahâvagga, VIII, 51; Spence Hardy’s Manual of Buddhism, 2nd ed. 226). It appears that at the time of Buddha, the kingdom of Aṅga had been annexed to the Magadha kingdom by Bimbisâra, as Bhaddiya is said to have been situated in that kingdom (Mahâvagga, VI, 34; Spence Hardy’s Manual of Buddhism, p. 166).

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Bhadrâ—It is evidently the Yarkand river on which the town of Yarkand is situated; it is also called Zarafshan (*Vishnu P.*, Bk. II, ch. 2). It is one of the four rivers into which the Ganges is said to have divided itself (*Bhâgavata P.*, V, 17).

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Bhadrakarna—1. Karnapura or Karnâli, on the south bank of the Nerbada. It contains one of the celebrated shrines of Mahâdeva (*Mahâ-Śiva-Purâna*, Pt. 1, ch. 15, and *Mahâbhârata*, Vana P., ch. 84). See Erandi. 2. A sacred *hrada* (lake or reservoir) in Trinetresvara or modern Than in Kathiawad (*q.v.*) (*Kûrma P.*, I, 34; *Skanda P.*, Prabhâsa Kh., Arbuda, ch. 8).

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Bhadravatî—Bhatala, ten miles north of Warora in the district of Chanda, Central Provinces. Bhandak, in the same district and 18 miles north-west of Chanda town, is also traditionally the ancient Bhadrâvatî. It was the capital of Yuvanâsva of the *Jaimini-Bhârata*. Cunningham has identified Bhadrâvatî with Bhilsa (*Bhilsa Topes*, p. 364; *JASB.*, 1847, p. 745). Buari, an old place near Pind Dadan Khan in the district of Jhelum in the Punjab also claims the honour of being the ancient Bhadrâvatî: it contains many ruins, (*JASB.*, XIX, p. 537). The *Padma-Purâna* (Uttara, ch. 30) places Bhadrâvatî on the banks of the Sarasvatî. In the *Jaimini-Bhârata*, ch. 6, Bhadrâvatî is said to be 20 Yojans distant from Hastinâpura. Ptolemy's Bardaotis has been identified with Bhadrâvatî: he places it to the east of the Vindhya range (*McCrindle's Ptolemy*, p. 162), and it has been considered to be identical with Bhârhut (*Arch. S. Rep.*, XXI, p. 92).

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