Studies in the Geography of Ancient and Medieval India c25.17

c25.17

If the Padma Purāṇa is to be believed, the temple of Vāmanasvāmin was situated somewhere in the city of Kanauj. We should, therefore, search for a locality called Brahmaśilā to the east of Kanauj. This Brahmaśilā seems to be no other than Barhamshil mentioned by Al-Bīrūnī who says, "A man marching from Kanoj to the south between the two rivers Jaun and Ganges passes the following well-known places:—Jajjamau, 12 *farsakh* from Kanoj, each *farsakh* being equal to four miles or one *Kuroh*; Abhāpurī, 8 *farsakh*; Kuraha, 8 *farsakh*; Barhamshil, 8 *farsakh*; the Tree of Prayāga, 12 *farsakh*, the place where the waters of the Jaun join the Ganges, where the Hindus torment themselves with various kinds of tortures which are described in the books about religious sects."² As regards the measure of distance, Al-Bīrūnī says that the *Krośa* is equal to 'our mile,' *yojana* is 'equal to 8 miles or to 32,000 yards,' and '1 *Kuroh* = ½ *yojana*.'³