Mountains of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Himalaya, Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature

History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) - Part 66  

Historical Aspects of Classical Period of Haridwar -Kumaon-Garhwal (Uttarakhand), Himalayas-8   

Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature- part -6

(This History chapter up is dedicated to great historian Dr Shiv Prasad Dabral, Rahul Sankrityayan, Garhwali poet Sada Nand Jakhmola, Editor of Satyapath, Lalita Prasad Naithani, Dr. Shiva Nand Nautiyal, Kunvar Singh Negi, ‘Karmath’, Srimati Kamla Ratnam, Banarasi Das Chaturvedi , Dr. Mayaram Uniyal  who did sound research on Kalidasa literature and Life)

                                                       By: Bhishma Kukreti

          The scholars admit that though Kalidas was resident of Ujjayani was in all likelihood a native a native of Himalayan province. The description of Himalayan Mountains and those regions suggest that Kalidasa was native of central Himalayan region.  His descriptions are obtained chiefly from direct experience of physical geography, natural history, social behaviors of central Himalaya (Uttarakhand especially Garhwal).

            The phrases as “The ‘Towery summits of Himalaya’ decked with ‘diadems of snow’; the peaks of Kailas reflected in the waters of dark Yamuna; the rippling Ganga laving the Mountain pines and cedar show that the illustration is about Garhwal ,especially Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag and Chamoli Garhwal .

                    Himalayan Mountains in Kalidasa Literature

 Kailas of Kalidasa- the Kailas of Kalidasa literature is part of Gandh-Madan Himalayan shrine. Ganga or Alaknanda comes out of Kailas (Purva Meghdootam, 67).  Mahabharata also describes Gandh-Madan hills as part of Badrikashrama shrine. Kalidasa portrays Kailas as clean, ivory color, beautiful and spiritual (Meghdootam,32).  Alkapuri is nearby Kailas of Kalidasa.

Kridashail of Kalidasa – Kaidasa describes that there was a hill ridge in Alkapuri named Kridashail. There were various types of tress in the hill ridge- Maulisiri (Mimusops elengi), Ashoka, Kurbak and Malpighiaceae plants.

Kraunchrandhra of Kalidas- Kalidasa describes Kraunchrandhra hill in Purva Meghdootam (67).The present Neetidwar or Neeti pass for Tibet in Garhwal is said to be Kraunchrandhra (Geographical Dictionary).

 Gandhmadan Shrine- Kalidas illustrates Gandhmadan Shrine frequently in his writings in Vikramorvashiyam, Meghdootam, Raghuvansham, and Kumarsambhavam. Kalidas states that Gandhmadan Shrine starts from Bhagirathi to Badrikashram .Kalidas used Kailas Mountain as part of Gandhmadan Shrine from where Mandakini and Janhvi Rivers take birth. That means Gandhmadan Shrine is present northern belt of Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts of Garhwal that is –present Gangotri, Kedar and Badrinath valleys.

Gauriguru Parvat- Kalidasa describes Gauriguru Parvat in Raghuvansham (2/26). According to Kalidas, Ganga emerges from this Mountain. It is definitely Badrinath valley because, most of the time Kalidasa used Alaknanda River as Ganga. Chanvar cows (Yaks) reside in this mountain. Deodar trees , Bhojpatra and various species of bamboo grow there.

                    

  Prabhavanchal Mountain- in Meghdootam (56), Kalidasa states that this mountain is towards Kailas from Kankhal (Haridwar). Ganga emerges from here. Deodar trees grow here. Yak live here. There are Kasturi mrig or musk deer too in this Maintain.

Sikta Parvat- Sikta Maintain is at bank of Mandakini in Vikramorvashiyam (act-4),

Sumeru- According to Kalidasa, Sumeru hill is at descending part of Gandhmadan shrine near Kailas. B.S. Upadhyaya states this shrine as Rudra Himalaya of Garhwal

Hemkoot- Kalidasa describes Hemkoot in figurative language (Vikramorvashiyam,act-4).

***Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature to be continued…part -7

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti 7/06/2013

(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand) to be continued… Part -67

Historical Aspects of -Classical Period of Haridwar -Kumaon-Garhwal (Uttarakhand), Himalayas to be continued…9 

Chapter  Brief Notes on Mountains of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Himalaya, Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature; Mountains of Niti, Chamoli pass Garhwal (Himalaya, Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature; Mountains of Bampa, Chamoli Garhwal, Himalaya, Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature; Mountains of Khirao, Chamoli Garhwal  (Himalaya, Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature; Mountains of Bhiundhar, Chamoli Garhwal (Himalaya, Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature; Mountains of Rudranth, Chamoli  Garhwal (Himalaya, Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature; Mountains of Dunagiri, Chamoli, Garhwal (Himalaya, Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature; Mountains of Badrinath valley Garhwal (Himalaya, Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature; Mountains of Kedarnath Valley Rudraprayag, Garhwal (Himalaya, Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature; Mountains of Suralthota, Chamoli Garhwal (Himalaya, Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature; Mountains of Uttarkashi Garhwal (Himalaya, Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature;