Historical Geography of Ancient India c6.433

c6.433

Kekaya.—This country, which is mentioned in the *Mahābhārata* (II. 48, 13; VI. 61. 12; VII, 19. 7) as well as in the *Bhāgavatapurāṇa* (X. 2. 3; X. 75, 12; X. 84, 55; X. 86, 20) has been identified with the present district of Shahpur in the Punjab. The Kekaya territory, according to the *Rāmāyaṇa* (II. 68, 19-22; VII. 113-114) lay beyond the Vipāśā or Beas and abutted on the Gandhāra territory. Cunningham identifies the capital of the Kekayadeśa with Girjak or Jalalpur on the Jhelum (*J.A.S.B.*, 1895, 250ff.; *A.G.I.*, 1924, 188; *Rāmāyaṇa*, I. 69, 7; II, 71. 18). Pāṇini in his *Aṣṭādhyāyī* (7. 3. 2) and Patañjali in his *Mahābhāṣya* (7. 2. 3) refer to it. Rājaśekhara in his *Kāvyamīmāṃsā* places the Kekaya country in the northern division of India along with the Śakas, Hūṇas, Kāmbojas, Vāhlikas, etc. According to Strabo it was extensive and fertile having in it some 300 cities (H. and F.’s Tr. III, p. 91). For further details vide Law, *Indological Studies*, Pt. I, pp. 18-19.