Studies in the Geography of Ancient and Medieval India c8.s3.129

c8.s3.129

The Kikaṭa country is placed in the southern part of Magadha, the northern half of which is called Magadha proper. Kikaṭa is described as extending from the Caraṇ-ādri upto Gṛdhrakūṭa. The celebrated Gṛdhrakūṭa or ‘Vulture Peak’ (modern Śaila-giri) was situated near Rājagṛha, modern Rājgir in the Patna District. Caraṇ-ādri appears to indicate either the Viṣṇupada hill at Gayā, or Chūnār. In the Purāṇic literature, Kikaṭa is essentially connected with the Gayā region. But the traditional indentifications of Kikaṭa with Gayā-pradeśa and with Magadha appear to be both right. The verse under study indicates that originally the Gayā region was called Kikaṭa and the Pāṭnā region Magadha; but soon the former became a part of the latter.