Indian Antiquary Vol 50

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 80

70
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
( MARCH, 1921
(3) At Kanyakubja or Kanauj.147 It was situated on the Ganges in the fifth and
seventh centuries,' as recorded by Fa Hian and Hiuen Tsiang respectively. 118 The Ganges has since changed its course, and Kanauj now stands on the
Káli-Nadi.149 (4) At Jâhnghira in Sultanganj on the west of Bhagalpur 150 (5) At Gauca near Malda.151 (6) At Tartipur (Turtypur of Rennell) near Gaur.162 (7) At Shibganj above Râmpur Boalia (according to local tradition). (8) At Jâhnnagar (Brahmânitalâ). Four miles to the west of Nadia.153
It will be remarked that the number of Jahnus in Bengalare at shorter distances from one another than in the United Provinces. These changes in Bengal took place perhaps on account of the gradual elevation and emergence of land in Mid-Bengal, which had ultimately the effect of diverting large volumes of the water of the Hugli to the former inundation channel of the Padmå. At any rate, Jahnus serve to show the main course of the Ganges down to the ocean.
The Ganges in its upper course has had the name of Bhagirathi applied to one of the The Bhagirathi.
head-waters from its source at Gangotri in Garwal to its junction
with the Alakânandâ at Devaprayâga. In its lower course also the Ganges is likewise called Bhâgîrathi from Suti in the district of Murshidabad in Bengal to its mouth near Sagar Island. I should also observe that the lower Bhâgîrathi, from its junction with the Jellinghi in the dist. ict of Nadia to the ocean, is now called the Hugli, evidently when Saptagrâma or Sâtgâou declined as an emporium of commerce by the silting up of the Sarasvati in the 17th century A.D., and when the town of Hugli rose into importance after it was declared a royal port in 1632 A.D.154 This is comparatively of recent date, and cannot at all affect the true significance of the name of the Bhagirathi, by which the Hugli was called before. From Deva prayga to Suti, a distance of more than one thousand miles, the river is known by th name of the Ganges.156 The name of Bhagirathi, which means the daughter of Bhagiratha who brought down the Ganges from heaven, has been applied to the river both at its upper and lower courses, evidently with & view to preserve the continuity of its course, and its sacredness from its principal source at Gangotri to its principal mouth near the Sagar Island, so that there might arise no confusion between the Ganges and its numerous ramifications. The Ramayana156, the Mahabharata 157 and some of the Puranas 158. have a chapter de.
voted to extolling the sanctity of the Ganges, which is called the The sanctity
Ganga. Mahatmya. Gangå issued from the foot of Vishnu, was held then of the Ganges.
in Brahma's Kamandalu or water-pot, and first descended upon the head of Mahadeva in her course from heaven upon this earth. Hence all sects combine
147 Vish -Dharmmottara Purna, Pt. I, ch., 20: Brihad-Dharma P., Purva Khanda, ch. 6, places Jahnu's hermitage above Allahabad and Benares.
148 Beal's Buddhist Records of the Western Countries, Intro., p. XLIII, : vol. I, p. 206. 149 Cunningham's Ancient Geography of India, p. 379.
180 Brihad-Dharmma Purdņa, Madhya kh., ch. 22; Cunningham's Arch. S. Report, vol. xv, p. 20 JASB., XXXIII, p. 360. 161 Hamilton's East Indian Gazetteer, a.v. Gour.
162 Martin's Eastern India, vol. III, p. 18. 163 Navadvipa-Parikrama, p: 61; Chunder's Travels of a Hindoo, vol. I. 154 JASB., 1910, p. 600 : my Notes on the History of the District of Hughli or the Ancient Radha. 166 Imperial Gazetteer of India, a.v. Bhagirathi.
186 Ramdyana, Adi, ch. 43. 167. Mahabhdrata, Anussana P., ch, 26.
108 Padma P., Srishti Kh., ch. 54; Kurma P., ch. 37; Agni P., ch. 110: Brihad-Naradiya P.. pt. II, ch. 38