Historical Geography of Ancient India c6.132

c6.132

Bāhumatī.—The Bāhumatī (Majjhima Nikāya, I, 39) may be identified with the Bāgmatī, a sacred river of the Buddhists in Nepal. Lassen identifies Kakanthas of Arrian with the river Bāgmatī of Nepal. Bāgmatī is also called Bāchmatī, as it was created by the Buddha Krakucchanda by the word of mouth during his visit to Nepal. Its junction with the rivers Maradārika, Maṇiśrohi, Rājamañjari, Ratnāvali, Cārumatī, Prabhāvatī and Triveṇī form the tīrthas (holy places) called Śāntā, Śaṅkara, Rājamañjarī, Pramodā, Sulakṣaṇā, Jayā and Gokarna respectively (Varāhapurāṇa, Ch. 215; cf. Svayambhūpurāṇa, Ch. V). On the bank of the Bāgmatī river stands Vatsalā (Nepīlmāhātmya, Ch. I, 39).