Place-names in the Vamana Purana

Summary

This extensive article compiles and analyses place‑names found in the Vamana Purana, a Puranic text dedicated to the dwarf avatar of Vishnu. The author first explains the structure of the Vamana Purana, noting that its geographic sections blend mythological narratives with realistic descriptions of rivers, mountains and sacred sites. He then extracts over two hundred toponyms—ranging from famous pilgrimage centres like Varanasi, Prayaga and Puri to lesser‑known villages and forests—and identifies their modern equivalents where possible. By cross‑referencing with epigraphic evidence, ancient itineraries and local traditions, the author demonstrates that many names correspond to regions across the Indo‑Gangetic plain, the Deccan and the Himalayan foothills. For instance, the Purana’s reference to the “land of Matsya” matches the early kingdom in Rajasthan, while its mention of “Dandaka forest” correlates with the central Indian jungles. The article discusses the etymology of selected names, exploring how linguistic shifts and folk etymologies have altered them over time. It also highlights instances where the Purana preserves archaic forms of names lost in later literature. Beyond geography, the paper reflects on how the enumeration of place‑names served religious and political purposes—sacred geography legitimised pilgrimage circuits and asserted imperial claims to pan‑Indian sovereignty. The author emphasises that while Puranic geography should not be read as cartographic fact, its place‑lists provide valuable clues for historians of regional identity and cultural exchange. He concludes by mapping clusters of names to suggest the likely provenance and date of the Vamana Purana’s composition.