Rāptī (Rapti), a river that flowed through Ayodhyā (Ayodhya), mentioned in Purāṇas (Puranas), was also known as Acīravatī (Achiravati) or Airāvātī (Airavati). Scholars believe that the ancient city of Śrāvastī (Shravasti) was situated on the banks of river Acīravatī. It may be presumed that the quay or the wharf on the banks of Rāptī, the […]

Āgāhī  is one of the daughters born of the union between Vasudeva of the Vṛṣni clan, and Vṛkadevī (Vrikadevi).

Agniprabha is a sacred place of pilgrimage located on the bank of the river Gaṇḍaka (Gandaka). A stream that flows out from the northeastern part of Agniprabha merges into the Gaṇḍaka river. A holy dip in this stream is said to bear the fruits of Agniṣṭoma yajña (yajna). The waters of this stream are warm […]

A place of pilgrimage in Kokāmukha (Kokamukha) region of Himālaya (Himalaya) Mountains. Five cataracts coming down from a mountain called Girikuñja (Girikunja) created the illusive water of this lake. Another opinion speaks of a place in Himālaya that, though home to non-Aryans, was located in the site of pilgrimage called Lohārgala (Lohargala) and as a […]

Agnisatyapada is the name of a watery place of pilgrimage in the holy site of Badarī (Badari) in the Himalayan region. Torrents of waters from three surrounding mountain peaks gush down on this shrine. 

The name of Airāvata (Airavata) have been mentioned several times in the epics and the Purāṇas (Puranas) as the king of elephants as well as the best elephant ever. In the Purāṇas (Puranas), the names of four divine elephants (in other opinion, eight divine elephants) are mentioned who surround the earth. Airāvata (Airavata) is a […]

Akrūra is a site of pilgrimage in Purāṇas (Puranas). This holy place has been glorified in the chronicles of a merchant named Sudhana and a brahmarākṣasa (brahmarakshasha).                 Akrūra  has been mentioned in connection with other sites of pilgrimage in the city of Mathurā (Mathura); hence, it is quite likely that it was situated close to […]

This tree is capable of yielding all kinds of wish-fulfilment. This is also a pilgrimage site. A visit to this site yields all that is desired. According to Varahapurāṇa (Varahapurana) this site is located near the temple of Stutasvāmi Nārāyaṇa (Stutaswami Narayana) in Uttara Pradesa. According to Tīrthasāra (Tirthasara), the place is situated between two […]

The primary and smallest physically perceivable unit of measurement of length was aṅgula (angula) or aṅguli (anguli) — tāsām āyāma-viṣkaṃbhān sanniveśāntarāṇi ca/cakrustadā mahāprajñaṃ mitvā mitvāntano’ṅgulaiḥ. When the sunrays enter a dark room through a narrow chink in the window one can see thousands of dust particles floating around in the luminescent stream of sun light, […]

A mountain called Trikakuda or Traikakuda has been referred to more than once in Atharvaveda and other Vedic literatures. Maybe the name was inspired by a presence of three peaks of the mountain (Sanskrit kakuda means ‘hump’ or ‘projection’). Atharvaveda was the first book to call this Trikakuda Hills Añjanaparvata (Anjanaparvata) —devāñjana traikakudaṃ pari mā […]

Annakūṭa (Annakuta) is a parvata-tīrtha (mountain as a site of pilgrimage). Indra, king of gods, resides on this high mountain located in Mathurā (Mathura). Vāsudeva Kṛṣṇa (Krishna) once performed a yajña (yajna) in this place, in order to receive blessings from Indra. In order to protect the locality from Indra’s wrath, he held the Govardhana […]

In course of describing how Agni (Deity of Fire) entered into water, there had been a mention of a specific kind of Agni that is present within water. According to Paurāṇika (Pauranika; Purana-oriented) thoughts, this fire is called ‘Saha’. Nilakaṇṭha (Nilakantha), the commentator, says that ‘Saha’ is a definitive term for Āpa (Apa), denoting a […]

Ardhacandratīrtha (Ardhachandratirtha)is a tīrtha(tirtha; site of pilgrimage) located in Mathurā (Mathura). Having a bath in this site, one may yield great fruits of virtue.

Arkasthalakuṇḍa (Arkasthalakunda) is a sacred water-reservoir in Mathurā (Mathura), located on the bank of the river Yamunā (Yamuna). Taking a bath in this kuṇḍa (kunda), one may be relieved of all sins.

Asikuṇḍa (Asikunda) is a sacred tīrtha (tirtha; site of pilgrimage) located in Mathurā (Mathura).In Varāhapurāṇa (Varahapurana) it is said that there was a tyrannical and evil king called Vimati in ancient times. At the request of the tīrtha(s), God Viṣṇu, assuming the form of a Varāha (Varaha; Swine), fought against this king Vimati. He killed […]

A sacred site of pilgrimage in Vadrīdhāma (Vadridhama; the abode of Vadri)– Indralokamitāi khyātaṁ vadarthyāñca mamāśramam. Indra, king of the gods, worshipped Varāhadeva(Varahadeva) in this place. A sacred river is there as well. Dharmarāja always abides in this place .

Udumlāna (Udumlana) was one of the sages of Kouśika (Kousika) clan.

Umā is the daughter of Himālaya, king of the mountains, and wife of God Śiva-Mahādeva. In Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Maharṣi Viśvāmitra was taking Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa for slaying Tāḍakā. On the way, seeing Suradhunī Gaṅgā wanted to know about the history of the origin of Gaṅgā. In that context, Viśvāmitra said, Himavāha parvata, resource of all […]