The Geographical Dictionary of Ancient and Mediaeval India c5.s9.197

c5.s9.197

**Kuṇḍinapura**—The ancient capital of Vidarbha. Dowson identifies it with Kuṇḍapura, about forty miles east of Amarāvatī (Dowson's Classical Dic., 4th ed., p. 171 and Wilson's Mālatī Mādhava, Act I). It existed at the time of Bhavabhūti (Mālatī Mādhava, Act I). Devalavārā, eleven miles south of Warrora, on the river Wardha (Vidarbha) in the district of Chanda in the Central Provinces, is traditionally known as the ancient Kuṇḍinapura (Cunningham's Archaeological Survey Report, IX, p. 133). A fair is held here every year near the temple of Rukmiṇī. Ancient Kuṇḍinapura is said to have extended from the river Wardha to Amarāvatī (Amraoti) where the identical temple of Bhavānī, from which she was carried away by Kṛiṣṇa, is still said to exist. Kuṇḍinapura was the birth-place of Rukmiṇī, the consort of Kṛiṣṇa. It has been identified with Koṇḍāvir in Berar (Dr. Führer's Monumental Antiquities and Inscriptions). Kuṇḍinapura was also called Vidarbhapura (Harivaṃśa, II; Mbh., Vana, ch. 73). It appears, however, that Vidarbhapura or Kuṇḍinapura was on the site of Bidar (see Bidarbha). Rukmiṇī was formerly married by Kṛiṣṇa, after she was carried away from Bidarbha, at Mādhavapur, forty miles to the north-west of Prabhāsa or Somanātha (Archāvatāra). The Anargharāghavam (Act VII, 101) places Kuṇḍinanagara in Mahārāṣṭra which, it says, included Bidarbha.