Pañcanadī, Pañcamahānadī

In several places in the texts five rivers are mentioned as the five great rivers of India, and they are used in various similes and metaphors. These rivers are:

1. Gangā,
2. Yamunā,
3. Aciravatī,
4. Sarabhū and
5. Mahī.

E.g., Vin.ii.239; A.iv.101; S.ii.135; Ud.v.4; also Mil.380.

Dictionary of Pali Proper Names, G P Malalasekera (1899-1973), which is available as printed version from