in the Poorans, the Ganges proper is described as passing through Calinga, a country which we know to be the region watered by the Godavery.[1] So far, therefore, as regards the course of the Ganges through Calinga, described in these ancient books, it must be the Godavery to which they allude.
From the adjective Trilinga, by a general grammatical rule[2] is derived Tilinga,[3] or as it is more generally written Telinga.—From Tilinga also, by corruption, the Native Grammarians derive the words Tenoogoo and Teloogoo which is the name now generally given to the language in the country where it is spoken.—The little resemblance between Tenoogo or Teloogoo, and Telinga, may induce an English reader to question this derivation: but, as I have remarked in a subsequent part of this work, great deference is due by a foreigner to the testimony of Native Authors; and when it is considered that many words have passed into Teloogoo through the medium of the Pracrit, or other corrupted dialects of the Sanscrit, and have been naturalized in it for ages, the little connexion now to be traced between some original words, and their corruptions, ought not alone to invalidate the established etymologies of successive Grammarians.—It may not be irrelevant, however, to observe, that Teloogoo may possibly be derived from the adjective Tellu,[4] fair, white, an appellation which might with much propriety be applied to the people of Telihgana, compared with the neighbouring nations;
- ↑ Asiatic Researches Vol. III article 3d.
- ↑ The reader is requested to refer to the conclusion of the second Chapter of the grammar.
- ↑ Tilinga is mentioned in the Brahmanda Puran as an inland Country, situated between Casicosala or Benares, and Magadha. Vol. 8th. of the Asiatic Researches. Essay on the sacred isles in the west.
- ↑ The participle అగు (the same as అయిన) may be added to each of these words, used adjectively, which thus became తెల్లగు Tellugoo and తేనగు Tenugoo respectively. These derivations, however, are not free from objection, for they are not in strict conformity to the grammatical rules for Sunᶁhi.
In the Brahmanda Pooran, also, the course of the Ganges is thus described.—“The southern branch goes to Gadhamandana from hill to hill, from stone to stone; it encircles the forest of Gadhamandana or Deva-nandana, whence it is called Alacananda, it goes to the Northern lake, called Manasa, thence to the king of mountains with three summits, thence to the Mountains of Calinga.” Asiatic Researches Vol. 8th. Essay on the sacred isles in the west.
