Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c14.46

v1.c14.46

1. Gaṅgā (Modern Ganges).—One of the five great rivers (Mahānadī) that water Jambudīpa, the others being Yamunā, Aciravatī, Sarabhū, and Mahī.¹ The Commentaries² give a long description of their origin. From the Anotatta lake flow four rivers: that from the south circles the lake three times under the name of Avaṭṭagaṅgā, then as Kaṇhagaṅgā flows straight for sixty leagues along the surface of a rock, comes into violent contact with a vertical rock, and is thrown upwards as a column of water three gāvutas in circumference; this column, known as Ākāsagaṅgā, flows through the air for sixty leagues, falls on to the rock Tiyaggala, excavating it to a depth of fifty leagues, thus forming a lake which is called Tiyaggalapokkharaṇī; then the river, under the name of Bahalagaṅgā, flows through a chasm in the rock for sixty leagues, then, under the name of Ummagagaṅgā, through a tunnel for a further sixty leagues, and finally coming upon the oblique rock Vijjha, divides into five streams, forming the five rivers above mentioned. Among places mentioned as being on the banks of the Gaṅgā are Benāres, Campā, Ayojjha, Kimbhilā, Ukkāvelā, Payāga, Pāṭaliputta, and Saṅkassa.³ The Gaṅgā formed one of the most important means of communication and trade for the districts through which it flowed—e.g., from Rājagaha to Vesālī. The district to the north of the river and bordering on the kingdom of Aṅga was called Aṅguttarāpa.⁴ The river was five hundred leagues in length.⁵