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Brahmakúnd, in Brahmaputra, above Assám, Lat. 27°, Long. 96° ब्रह्मकुराड Sanskr.

"Bráhma's pool." Kund is a hydrographical term very often used for designating deep back-waters, such as are formed in the curves of the large rivers; it is perhaps best translated by river pool; the word is also occasionally used for (natural) reservoirs of water, for wells, and springs.

The Brahmakúnd to the north-east of Sádia is a quiet, lateral pool of the Brahmapútra, situated within the lower spurs of the mountainous part of its river system and followed by a narrow defile with rapids.

It is a most sacred place to the Hindús, and is not unfrequently found to be considered in India in general as the source of the river, although the Assamese never fail to distinguish them.

Other names for the Brahmakúnd, also mentioned by Wilson, in As. Res. Vol. XVII., p. 354, are: Deo-páni, God's water, and Prabhu-kuthár, Parasurâma's axe. The latter refers to the well-marked traces of the cutting of the rocks (by erosion).

Brahmapútra, a river in Assám . . . . . . . . . . . ब्रह्मपुत्र برهم پتر Sanskr., Hind.

"Bráhma's son." Other names of this river are: Gabhásti, Hrádana, Lohit (q. v.), Tálu-ka, Záyö-chhu; compare also Dihóng and Tsangbochú.

Brahmapútra, the sacred Hindu name, is used for this river in general only as far north as to the Brahmakúnd; along the upper course of this stream the Ábors call it Ssiáng, the Mishmis and Sinh-phos give it the name Tálu-ka; the Tibetans call it Záyö-chhu after the district Záyö through which it flows. (Compare Vol. II, p. 97). Ka is the Sinh-pho word for river; the Míshmi word is Thi (the Kámti is Nam).

In the Sanskrit literature many a name is found connected with the large Indian rivers in such a form that it often becomes difficult to decide whether it is an epithet only or whether it was used as a name. Compare Wilford, As. Res., Vol. VIII., pp. 424 and 444. As such I mention for the Brahmapútra Gabhásti, the sun, the ray of light. It is perhaps an allusion to the resplending line of water, with which the river is seen to bisect the valley of Assám. Another name of this kind is: Hrádana, from Hráda, lake; referring to the breadth of the river.

Brog, in Bálti, Lat. 35°, Long. 75° . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . འབྲོག 'brog. Tib.

"Sommer village." Literally the meaning of the word is wilderness, isolated house, in contradistinction to the villages permanently inhabited and surrounded by cultivated grounds.

Búchi Gánga, a river in Nepál . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . بوچهي ڱنڱا Nepál.

"Old river."

Bulandsháhár, in Hindostán, Lat. 28°, Long. 77° . . . . . . . . . بلند شهر Pers.

"The great (properly high) town."