Historical Geography of Ancient India c6.233.1

c6.233.1

Gaṅgā.—The Gaṅgā which is also called Alakanandā² or Dyudhuni³ or Dyunadi⁴ is mentioned in the Ṛgveda⁵ and in the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa (XIII, 5, 4, 11). Patañjali’s Mahābhāṣya mentions it (1, 1, 9. p. 436; 1. 4. 2. p. 670). It is also mentioned in the Brahmāṇḍapurāṇa (II. 18, 26-42; 50-52) as well as in Kālidāsa’s Raghuvaṃśa.⁶ The Gaṅgā is also known as the Bhāgīrathī and Jāhṇavī.⁷ The Yoginītantra refers to it (1. 6; 2. 1; 2. 7, 8; 2. 5). The victory on the Gaṅgā represents the furthest extent of the Kuru rule (Vedic Index, I, 218, f.n. 4). According to the Taittirīya Āraṇyaka (II. 20), those who dwelt between the Gaṅgā and the Yamunā were especially honoured. The Varaṇāvatī which is found in the Atharvaveda (IV. 7, 1) seems to be the Ganges according to Ludwig.⁸ The Gaṅgā or the modern Ganges is said to have issued from the foot of the Nārāyaṇa and followed her course on the Mount Meru; then she bifurcated herself in four streams flowing east, south, west and north; the southern stream was allowed by Śiva through the intercession of king Bharata to flow through India.⁹ According to the Harivaṃśa¹⁰ king Pururava lived with Urvaśī for five years on the bank of the river Mandākinī which is another name of the Ganges. According to the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa (pp. 242-243) the Ganges is described as Tripathagāminī, i.e., having three courses.