Studies in the Geography of Ancient and Medieval India c8.s3.175

c8.s3.175

The great country called Varvara is described as extending from Māyāpura and as lying to the north of Sapta-śṛṅga. Varvara reminds us of Barbaricum of the *Periplus*, which lay on the sea at the mouth of the Indus and belonged to the country of Scythia (Indo-Scythia of Ptolemy), *i.e.* the Śaka country, about the beginning of the Christian era. It is tempting to identify Māyāpura with the place of that name near Hardwār; but it is far away from the ancient Barbaricum. Sapta-śṛṅga is again a famous place to the north of Nasik. The image of the eighteen-armed goddess of this place is 12 feet high.¹ A verse of the Supplement also mentions both Māyāpura and Sapta-śṛṅga; but it is difficult to determine their position with reference to the country of Varvara. Can Māyāpura be the Mayapur Pass in the Jhansi District, U. P.?