The Geographical Dictionary of Ancient and Mediaeval India c5.s2.42

c5.s2.42

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.