Pañcanada

By Swami Harshananda

Pañcanada literally means ‘the land of five rivers’.

The country Madradeśa or Araṭṭa was called Pañcanāda^[1]^[2] since the Sindhu^[3] and its five tributaries flowed through it. They are:

Satadru - Sutlej
Vipāśā - Beas
Irāvatī - Rāvi
Candrabhāgā - Chenab
Vitastā - Jhelum

It roughly corresponds to the modern Punjab of both India and Pakistan. A demon Jalandhara had his capital here. He was later killed by Lord Śiva. One of the 51 Śaktipīṭhas^[4] is situated here. The temple of Viśvamukhi houses the goddess.

References[edit]

↑ Pañca means five.
↑ Nada means river.
↑ Sindhu means Indus river.
↑ Śaktipīṭhas means the places sacred to the Divine Mother.

The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

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[1] Pañca means five.

[2] Nada means river.

[3] Sindhu means Indus river.

[4] Śaktipīṭhas means the places sacred to the Divine Mother.

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