Historical Geography of Ancient India c9.41

c9.41

*Bharukaccha* (Bhṛgukaccha).—Bharukaccha (sea-marsh), Bhṛgukaccha,¹ are all identical with modern Broach or Bharoch which is the Barygaza of Ptolemy² and the *Periplus of the Erythraean Sea*.³ Modern Broach is Kathiāwāḍ. In the name Barygaza given to it by Ptolemy we have a Greek corruption of Bhṛguksetra or Bhṛgukaccha (*Ancient India as described by Ptolemy*, pp. 153-4). Bharukaccha was a seaport town. Julien restored the name as ‘Barou-gatcheva’ which Saint Martin made as ‘Bāroukatcheva’. It was known as Po-lu-ka-che-p’o at the time of the Chinese pilgrim, Hiuen Tsang. Bhṛgukaccha is the Skt. form of Bharukaccha which means high coast-land. This town was exactly situated on a high coast-land. The Bṛhatsaṃhitā (XIV. 11) and the Yoginītantra (2. 4) refer to it. It is also mentioned in the Mathurā Buddhist image Inscription of Huviṣka. A grant of the Gurjara king Jayabhaṭṭa III, (Kalacuri year 486; *E.I.*, XXIII, Pt. IV, Oct., 1935; cf. Luder’s List, No. 1131) also makes mention of this town. The Bhāgavata Purāṇa (VIII, 18, 12) places it on the northern bank of the Narmadā. According to the Greek geographer Ptolemy, Barygaza was a large city situated about 30 miles from the sea on the north side of the river Narmadā (*Ancient India as described by Ptolemy*, p. 153). The Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa (Vaṅgavāsī ed., Ch. 58, v. 21) locates it on the river Veṇvā.