Historical Geography of Ancient India c8.420

c8.420

Pretakūṭa (Pretaśilā).—It is a peak mentioned in the Gayā-māhātmya. This hill stands 540 ft. in height, situated five miles north-west of Gayā. It is a sacred spot for the pilgrims. On the top of this hill a granite boulder is to be seen appearing like a sitting elephant (B. M. Barua, Gaya and Buddha-Gaya, p. 14). At the foot of the Pretakūṭa there was a bathing place called the Pretakunda also known as the Brahmakuṇḍa (Vāyu Purāṇa, 108. 67).