Indian Antiquary Vol 51

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

Page 311

KAM
87
KAN
Kamarupa-Assam: on the north, it included Bhutan, on the south it was bounded by the confluence of the Brahmaputra and the Lakhya and Banga, and included Manipur, Jayantiya, Kachhar, and parts of Mymensingh and Sylhet (Buchanan's Account of Rangpur in JASB., 1838, p. 1). It included also Rangpur which contained the country-residence of Bhagadatta, king of Kâmarûpa (Ibid., p. 2). The modern district of Kâmrup extends from Goâlpârâ to Gauhati. Its capital is called in the Puranas Prâgjyotisha (Kalika P., ch. 38) which has been identified with Kamakhya, or Gauhâti (JRAS., 1900, p. 25). Kâmâkhya is one of the Pithas, containing the temple of the celebrated Kâmâkhyâ Devi on the Nila hill or Nilakûta-parvata (Kalika P., ch. 62); it is two miles from Gauhâti. Râjâ Nîladhvaja founded another capital Komotapura (the modern Kamatapur in Cooch-Behar, Imp. Gaz., s. v. Rangpur District). On the opposite or north side of the river Brahmaputra is situated a hill called Asva-krântâ-parvata where Krishna is said to have fought with Narakasura (Brihat-Dharma P., Madhya Kh., ch. 10 and Brahma P., ch. 51; JRAS., 1900, p. 25). Bhagadatta, son of Naraka, was an ally of Duryodhana (Mahabharata, Udyoga, ch. 4). The Yogini-Tantra (Pârva Kh., ch. 12) has preserved some legends about the successors of Naraka. For the stories of Mayanâvati's son Gopichandra and his son Gavachandra, see JASB., 1838, p. 5. The Ahom kings came into Assam from the east at the beginning of the thirteenth century. The immediate cause of their emigration was the breaking up of the Chinese Empire by the Moguls, for at the time when Chukapha fixed himself in Assam, Kublai had just established himself in China (JASB., 1837, p. 17). The word "Ahom " is perhaps a corruption of Bhauma, as the descendants of Narakasura were called (Kalika P., ch. 39). For the later history of Kâmarûpa under the Muhammadans, see Asiatic Researches, Vol. II. The temple of Tâmresvari Devi or the copper temple, called by Buchanan the eastern Kâmâkhyâ, on the river Dalpani, is situated near the north-eastern boundary of the ancient Kâmarûpa (JASB., XVII, p. 462).
Kamberikhon-According to Ptolemy, it is the third mouth of the Ganges; it is a transcription of Kumbhirakhatam or the Crocodile-channel. It is now represented by the Bangara estuary in the district of Khulna in Bengal (see my Early Course of the Ganges in the Indian Antiquary, 1921).
Kamboja-Afghanistan: at least its northern part (Márkandeya P., ch. 57 and Manu, ch. X). According to Dr. Stein (Rajatarangini, Vol. I, p. 136), the eastern part of Afghanistan was called Kamboja. The name of " Afghan," however, Iras evidently been derived from Asvakan, the Assakenoi of Arrian (McCrindle's Megasthenes and Arrian, p. 180). It was celebrated for its horses (Mbh., Sabhâ P., chs. 26 and 51). Its capital was Dvårakâ, which should not be confounded with Dwarka in Gujarât (Dr. Rhys Davids' Buddhist India, p. 28). See Loha. Th Shiaposh tribe, which now resides on the Hindukush mountain is said to have descended from the Kâmbojas.. In the Girnar and Dhauli inscriptions of Asoka, Kamboja is mentioned as Kambocha, and according to Wilford, Kamboja was classed with the mountain of Ghazni (JASB., 1838, pp. 252, 267).
Kambyson-According to Ptolemy, it is the name of the westernmost mouth of the Ganges. It is evidently a corruption of Kapilasrama (see my Early Course of the Ganges in Ind. Ant. 1921.)
Kankali-1. One of the fifty-two Pithas situated on a burning ground near the river Kopai, where it takes a northernly course, in the district of Birbhum in Bengal. The name of the goddess is Kankali. 2. For Kankali Tila, see Mathura,