18G5.] Report of the Archaeological Survey. 191 



tioned as being four miles to the north of Atranji Khera. The chief 

 objection to this identification is the fact that Karsdna is apparently 

 not a very old place, although it is sometimes called Deora Karsdna, 

 a name which implies the possession of a temple of note at some for- 

 mer period. It is, however, possible that the name of Karsdna may 

 once have been joined to Atranji in the same way that we find Sikan- 

 darpur Atreji in the Ayin Akbari. As the identification of Karsdna 

 with Pilosana is purely conjectural, it is useless to hazard any more 

 speculations on this subject. The bearing and distance from Sankisa, as 

 recorded by Hwen Thsang, point to the neighbourhood of Sirpura, near 

 which there is a small village called Pilkuni, or Piloktmi, which is the 

 Pilukhoni of our maps. It is, however, a very petty place ; and although 

 it boasts of a small khera, or mound of ruins, it cannot, I think, have 

 ever been more than one-fourth of the circuit of two miles which Hwen 

 .Thsang attributes to Pi-lo-shan-na. But there are two strong points 

 in its favour — namely, 1st, its position, which agrees both in bearing 

 and distance with the Chinese pilgrim's account ; and 2nd, its name, 

 which is almost identical with the old name, sli being very commonly 

 pronounced as kh, so that Hwen Thsang's Piloshana would usually 

 be pronounced Pilokhana. 



231. In proposing Atranji-Khera as the site of the ancient Pilo- 

 shanna, I am influenced solely by the fact that this is the only large 

 place besides Soron of any antiquity in this part of the country. It is 

 true that the distance from Sankisa is somewhat greater than that 

 recorded by the Chinese pilgrim — namely, 45 miles, instead of 33 

 miles ; but the bearing is exact ; and as it is quite possible that there 

 may be some mistake in Hwen Thsang's recorded distance, I think 

 that Atranji-Khera has a better claim than any other place to be 

 identified with the ancient Piloshana. I have not visited the place 

 myself, as I was not aware of its importance when I was in its neigh- 

 bom-hood. I propose, however, to take an early opportunity of explor- 

 ing it in person. In the meantime I have had it inspected by a 

 trustworthy servant, whose report shoAvs that Atranji must once have 

 been a place of considerable extent and importance. According to him 

 the great mound of Atranji is 3,250 in length, and 2,550 in breadth at 

 the base. Now, these dimensions would give a circuit of about two 

 miles which is the very si^e of Piloshana as recorded by Hwen Thsang. 



