Place-Names in the Vamana Purana

Summary

In this contribution the author compiles an alphabetical index of place‑names and tirthas mentioned in the Vamana Purana, using the Vangavasi edition as a base and cross‑checking other recensions. Each entry lists the chapter and verse numbers where the place occurs across multiple manuscripts, labelled K, D, P, L and S, and includes brief identifications when possible. The index covers a wide geographic range: rivers such as the Godavari, Gandaki and Tamraparni; sacred sites like Kurukshetra, Kiskindha and Devadaruvana; cities such as Kerala, Kausiki and Gandaki; and obscure locales like Kimyakavana, Kutrudhvaja and Nisadha. For each name the compiler notes variant spellings, identifies the region (e.g., Dakshinatya or Vindhyamala) and cites parallel references in other Puranas or lexicons. The preface explains that the Vamana Purana’s geographical passages are dispersed, making it difficult for scholars to trace them; a consolidated index facilitates historical geography, pilgrimage studies and textual criticism. By documenting where different manuscripts diverge or omit certain names, the index also sheds light on the transmission and regional adaptations of the Purana. Scholars can compare the Vamana Purana’s place‑names with those in the Garuda Purana or with epigraphic records to infer historical trade routes and cultural zones. While essentially a reference tool, the index underscores the richness of Puranic geography and the need for systematic documentation of textual data to support wider historical research.