211 
1899.] 
THE NORTHERN DISTRICTS OF KRAMARAJYA. 
Tlrtha of Ciramocana. 
Mohand Marg , there is an ancient stone-lined tank filled by a fine 
spring known as Vut a san Nag. This is visited as a Tlrtha by the 
Brahmans of the neighbourhood and is also mentioned under the name 
of JJccaihslrna Naga in the Haramukuta and several other Mahatmyas. 
About a mile above the village the high-road leading up the valley 
passes a shapeless mound of large slabs which undoubtedly belonged to 
an ancient temple. 
130 . About four miles above Marflgam on the left bank of the 
Sind we reach a site which has enjoyed sanctity 
from an early period. Close to the village 
of Prang (not shown on map) situated circ. 74° 55' 30" long. 34° 16' 45" 
lat., a small branch of the Kank a nai River ( Kanakavahini ) flows into the 
Sind. This confluence is now visited by the pilgrims proceeding to the 
Haramukuta lakes as one of the chief Tlrthas on the route. In the 
modern Haramukuta Mahatmya it is designated as Karahkatlrtha. 
Bat I have shown that it is in reality identical with the ancient Tirtha 
of Ciramocana mentioned in the Rajataraiigini, the Nilamata and the 
old Nandiksetramahatmya. 1 
The Kank a nai or Kanakavahini which is always named together 
with Ciramocana, is a sacred river as it carries down the waters of the 
holy Gaiiga-lake below the Haramukuta Peaks. 2 This explains the 
importance attached to this ‘ Samgama.’ The Haramukuta Mahatmya 
which shows its comparatively recent origin by many of its local names, 
metamorphoses the old Kanavahini into Karahkanadi and consequently 
also changes the name of its confluence into Karankatlrtha . 3 King 
Jalauka, the son of Asoka, whom the Chronicle represents as a fervent 
worshipper of Sflva Bhutesa and of Nandisa, is said to have ended his 
days at Ciramocana. 
Our survey has already taken us to the sacred sites of Bhutesa and 
Jyestharudra marked by the ruined temples 
at the present Buth'ser high up in the Kank a - 
nai Valley. They are closely connected with 
the Tirthas of Nandiksetra below the Haramukuta glaciers which 
have also been described. 4 The village of Vangath, which is the highest 
permanently inhabited place in the valley, lies about two miles below 
Butlflser. It is named VasjSthasrama in the Mahatmyas and believed to 
mark the residence of the Rsi Vasistha. Allusions in the Rajataraiigini 
and Nilamata show that this legendary location is of old date. 5 
Tirthas of Bhutesa, 
. Jyestharudra. 
1 See Rdjat. i. 149-150 note. 
2 See above, § 57. 
3 Regarding the local nomenclature of this Mahatmya, see above, § 31. 
4 See above, § 57; also Rdjat. notes i. 36, 107, 113; v. 55-59. 
6 Compare Rdjat. viii, 2430 note. 
