Place-names in the Garuda Purana
Summary
Place‑names in the Garuda Purana presents an alphabetical index of geographical names and sacred sites mentioned in the Garuda Purana. For each entry the compiler provides cross‑references to standard works on historical geography and Vedic literature, including Nundo Lal Dey’s Geographical Dictionary, Bimala Churn Law’s Historical Geography, the Vedic Index by Macdonell and Keith, and V. R. Ramachandra Dikshitar’s Purana Index. The list includes countries, rivers, mountains and towns such as Anga, Andhra, Ayodhya, Arbuda and Amarakantaka, noting their location and occasional mythological associations. The author highlights variations in spelling and interpretation across different editions of the Purana and points out where places have been identified differently in scholarly literature. The article situates the Garuda Purana within the broader context of Puranic geography and emphasises that its tirtha lists complement those found in the Vayu and Matsya Puranas. It also notes the utility of the index for historians tracing political boundaries, pilgrims mapping sacred circuits and philologists analysing place‑name etymologies. By collating dispersed references, the article provides a convenient reference for researchers exploring ancient Indian geography and pilgrimage networks.
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Conclusion
This comprehensive index underscores the richness of Puranic geographical lore and offers scholars a tool for cross‑checking place‑names across multiple sources. It demonstrates how systematic compilation can illuminate the historical and cultural landscapes embedded in religious texts and aids future studies of ancient Indian topography.