By Swami Harshananda
Carmaṇvati literally means ‘with hides’.
Rantideva, an ancient king, performed several sacrifices in which many animals had been immolated. The hides of these had been heaped in one place. A river is said to have started flowing from there and it was christened as ‘Carmaṇvati’. Drupada’s (father of Draupadī and king of Pāñcāla) kingdom extended up to this river.
It is generally identified with the modern Chambal river. It rises about 14 kms. (9 miles) south-west of Mehow (in Madhya Pradesh) and joins the river Yamunā 40 kms. (25 miles) south of Etawah town in Uttar Pradesh.
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore