Historical Geography of Ancient India c8.233

c8.233

Jahṇu-āśrama.—This hermitage of the sage Jahṇu was situated at Sultanganj on the west of Bhāgalpur. The temple of Gaivināth Mahādeva, which was on the site of this hermitage, was situated on a rock which came out from the bed of the Ganges in front of Sultanganj. The Ganges on her way to the ocean was quaffed down in a draught by the sage when interrupted in his meditation by the rush of water and was let out by an incision on his thigh (or knee) at the intercession by Bhagīratha. Hence the Ganges is called the Jāhṇavī or the daughter of the sage Jahṇu (Law, *Holy Places of India*, p. 14; *J.A.S.B.*, X, 1914; XXXIII, p. 360; Cunningham, *A.S.R.*, XV, 21).