A river that flowed through Kurukṣetra (Kurukshetra). It is said in the Ādiparva (Adiparva) of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata) that Takṣaka (Takshaka) and Aśvasena (Ashwasen) lived together at the banks of Ikṣumatī (Ikshumati).
- After Rāmacandra’s (Ramachandra) banishment to the forest,when Daśaratha(Dasharatha) died Vaśiṣṭha (Vasishtha) sent a number of messengers to the kingdom of Kekaya in order to bring Bharata back and enthrone him as the king of Ayodhyā (Ayodhya). These messengers crossed multiple rivers and townships on their way to Kekaya. They first crossed the rivers Mālinī (Malini) and Ganga, then the land of Pāñcāla (Panchala) and two villages named Tejobhibhabana and Abhikāla (Abhikala). After that they crossed river Ikṣumatī to enter the land of Bāhlīka (Bahlika).
- The hermitage of sage Kapila was located at the banks of river Ikṣumatī.
- In Matsyapurāṇa (Matshapurana), Ikṣumatī has been referred to as a holy place of pilgrimage for the forefathers. It is said that the forefathers always dwell at the confluence of the two rivers, Ikṣumatī and Ganga.
- Scholars hold that the river Kālindī (Kalindi) flowing through Kumāyun Himālaya (Kumayun Himalaya), Rohilkhand (the north-western part of Uttar Pradesh) and the district of Kanauj is the present form of river Ikṣumatī.
- Varāhamihira’s Vṛhatsaṃhitā (Varahamihira’s Brihatsamhita) too supports this conception. River Kalindī or Ikhān (Ikhan) has been referred to as a tributary of river Ganga in Vṛhatsaṃhitā. Roman historian Arrian has described Ikṣumatī as Oxymagis. The ancient city of Saṅkāsya (Sankasya) was located at the banks of this river.