Historical Geography of Ancient India c5.s5.172

c5.s5.172

*Śūrasena.*—The Śūrasenas had Mathurā as their capital on the Jumna. Mathurā is generally identified with Maholi, 5 miles to the south-west of the present town of Mathurā, which should be distinguished from Madhurā or Madurā, the second capital of the Pandyan kingdom on the river Vaigi in Madras. They witnessed a dice-play between Dhanañjaya Korabba and Puṇṇaka Yakkha.³ The ancient Greek writers refer to the Śūrasena country as Sourasenoi and its capital as Methora. Buddhism was predominant in Mathurā for several centuries. Mahākaccāyana delivered a discourse on caste in Mathurā.⁴ The Buddha while proceeding from Mathurā to Verañji halted under a tree and he was worshipped by many householders there.