Kunnouj

kanya-kubja

N. of an ancient city of great note (in the north-western provinces of India, situated on the kālīnadī, a branch of the Gaṇgā, in the modern district of Farrukhabad;
the popular spelling of the name presents, perhaps, greater variations than that of any place in India <e.g.. Kanauj, Kunnoj, Kunnouj, Kinoge, Kinnoge, Kinnauj, Kanoj, Kannauj, Kunowj, Canowj Canoje, Canauj, etc.>;
in antiquity this city ranks next to Ayodhyā in Oude;
it is known in classical geography as Canogyza;
but the name applies alsoﾠ to its dependencies andﾠ the surrounding district;
the current etymology < kanyā, « a girl», shortened to kanya, andﾠ kubja, « round-shouldered orﾠ crooked» > refers to a legend in R. I, 32, 11 ff.,
relating to the hundred daughters of Kuṡanābha, the king of this city, who were all rendered crooked by Vāyu for non-compliance with his licentious desires;
the ruins of the ancient city are said to occupy a site larger than that of London) MBh. Kathās. etc.;
- deṡa m. the country round Kanyakubja