Historical Geography of Ancient India c10.381

c10.381

Vedisa (Vidiśā).—Vidiśā was a famous city in early times immortalized by Kālidāsa in his *Meghadūta*. The Vaidiśas were the people of Vidiśā¹ also called Vaiśyanagar which was an old name of Besnagar. According to the *Rāmāyaṇa* (Uttarakāṇḍa, Ch. 121) this city was given to Śatrughna by Rāmacandra. The *Garudapurāṇa*² describes it as a city full of wealth and happiness (*sarvasampatsamanvitam*). It contained various countries (*nānājanapadākīrṇam*), jewels (*nānāratnasamākulam*), big mansions and palaces, prosperous and pompous (*śobhāḍhyam*). It was an abode of many religions (*nānādharmasamanvitam*).