Alexander and Alexandria in Indian Literature

Summary

Surveying references to Alexander the Great and the city of Alexandria in Indian texts, this article explores how classical Indian authors received and reinterpreted Greek history. The author notes that Sanskrit and Prakrit literature often use the term ‘Yavana’ to denote Greeks or Westerners and that Alexander himself appears in a variety of guises—from the ruthless invader Alikasanda in Puranic legends to a model of kingship in later romances. The article examines passages from the Mahābhārata, Purāṇas, kāvya works and Jain narratives that mention the Greek conqueror or his foundation of Alexandria. It argues that Indian writers integrated Alexander into their own cosmologies, sometimes placing his deeds alongside those of mythic heroes and sometimes portraying him as a cautionary example of hubris. The city of Alexandria appears in accounts of maritime trade and is occasionally equated with the city of Yavana‑pura. By tracing these motifs, the article sheds light on Indo‑Greek cultural contacts and the ways Indian authors appropriated foreign history for didactic purposes.