Mahishmati  Mahishmati (IAST: Māhiṣmatī) was an ancient city in present-day central India. It was located in present-day Madhya Pradesh, on the banks of Narmada River, although its exact location is uncertain. It is mentioned in several ancient texts, and is said to have been ruled by the legendary Haihaya ruler Kartavirya Arjuna. Mahishmati was the most important city in the southern part of the Avanti kingdom, and later served as the capital of the Anupa Kingdom. The city may have flourished as late as until 13th century, as indicated by a Paramara inscription. Although there are several references to Mahishmati in ancient Indian literature, its exact location is uncertain. The following things are known about Mahishmati's location:   Several cities in Madhya Pradesh, located along the Narmada river, are claimed to be the ancient Mahishmati. These include:     The Sanskrit epic Ramayana mentions the attack of Rakshasa king Ravana on Mahishmati. The "Anushasana Parva" states that Ikshvaku's son Dashashva was a king of Mahishmati. It goes on to mention that the Haihaya king Kartavirya Arjuna ruled the entire earth from his capital Mahishmati (13:52). He was killed by Bhargava Rama. "Mahabharata" mentions Mahishmati as part of a kingdom distinct from the Avanti kingdom. The "Sabha Parva" (2:30) states that the Pandava general Sahadeva attacked Mahishmati, and defeated its ruler Nila. King Nila of Mahishmati is mentioned as a leader in the Kurukshetra War, rated by Bhishma as a "Rathi". His coat of mail had blue colour (Mbh 5:19,167). "Harivamsha" (33.1847) names the founder of Mahishmati as Mahishmant, a king who was the son of Sahanja and a descendant of Yadu through Haihaya. At another place, it names the city's founder as Muchukunda, an ancestor of Rama. It states that he built the cities of Mahishmati and Purika in the Rksha mountains. The "Raghuvamsa" states that Mahishmati was located on the Reva river (Narmada), and was the capital of the Anupa country.