An Ode to the Himalayas

YOU WILL RECALL that in Brahmanda Purana, sage Vasishtha told King Sagara about Parashurama. To accomplish his objective, Parashurama was advised by Bhrigu to perform austerities and worship Shiva. But before talking about Parashurama’s austerities, since we have a watered-down impression of the Puranas, we don’t realise they have wonderful poetry. Let me also give you a sense of the description of the Himalayas.

Vasishtha said, “Having been thus addressed by Bhrigu, Rama took his permission and made up his mind to go. He circumambulated Bhrigu and Khyati and prostrated himself. Having decided to undertake austerities, he emerged from the hermitage. He followed the path his senior had instructed him about. The great-souled Rama went to Himalaya, supreme among mountains. He passed over many kinds of countries, mountains, rivers and groves. He went past the residences of the best among sages. Here and there, along the path, he resided in the abodes of the sages. He dwelt in tirthas and the best of kshetras and proceeded slowly. He saw and passed over many beautiful countries.”

“He then reached the supreme and excellent Himalaya. He went to that supreme among mountains, with many kinds of trees and creepers. He saw large summits, which seemed to be etched against the sky. The regions were beautiful, adorned with many kinds of colourful minerals. The mountain was adorned with sparkling jewels and herbs. In some places, the wind caused dry trees to rub against each other and caused fires. The wind fanned the flames and caused new fires that burnt down. In some places, the spreading rays of the sun touched arkopalas and created fires. (Arkopala is a sun-stone, identified as a crystal or ruby. It acts like a lens or magnifying glass.) The ice on the rocks melted and this caused the forest conflagrations to be pacified. The golden rays of the sun spread through crystal and collyrium that sparkled like the moon. That light spread and the rays touched each other. In some places, there was shade. In other places, it seemed to blaze. Young ascetics frequented the valleys and the slopes of the mountains. There were some radiant groves, wet with snow, inhabited by large numbers of siddhas. Lit by the rays of the sun, there were golden rocks, resorted to by large numbers of yakshas. Since the extremities were illuminated, it was as if the yakshas were entering the fire. In some places, the caves were filled with the afflicted calls of herds of deer. Attacked by hyenas, they emerged from the mouths of caves and leapt down. In some places, the shining slopes of rocks and the trunks of trees were marked, when leaders of herds of boar and tigers had fought against each other. In some places, the rocks and the slopes had been broken up by the hooves of gavayas, pursued by she-elephants, who took them to be their cubs. There were places where rocks and clumps of the forest were crushed, where crazy and intoxicated male elephants in rut had fought, desiring to have intercourse with she-elephants. In some places, the rocks were marked by the paw marks of lions, as enraged by the trumpeting, they had chased elephants. Suddenly, lions leapt down and shattered the temples with their nails. In some places, the forest was filled with shrieks of elephants attacked in this way. In some places, the boulders and caves seemed to be shattered by the deep and terrible roars of maned lions, as they were forcibly dragged away by creatures with eight feet (sharabhas). In some places, the rocks were seen to be broken. This was because many angry hunters had engaged with the leaders of herds of bear and had fought against them. In some places, she-elephants sported in the groves in the mountain. In other places, intoxicated male elephants pursued the she-elephants through the groves. The breath from the mouths of sleeping lions filled hundreds of caves. Not scared of this grave danger, deer roamed around in those secluded spots. Herds of yak sported, moving around slowly. They were scared that their tails and hair would get caught in the thorny bushes. Many kinnaris filled the caves in the mountains. As they kept tala (as in the measurement of time in music), all the directions echoed with the sound. Here and there, the divinities of the forest moved around. Their feet were wet with the juices of lac, and this left marks on the ground. Flocks of peacocks and peahens called in melodious tones. They spread their feathers and danced around in every direction. The breeze blew and fanned the body of the forest, causing delight. Consequently, flowers were showered down on the land and in the water. Right up to the end of the forest, the place was filled with the calls of excited male cuckoos, as they tasted the juices of the best among seasons (meaning spring). The many flowers intoxicated the bees, and their buzzing was like singing. The calls of many kinds of birds seemed to render the forest deaf. The ground was wet with the honey from the best of flowers. Right up to the end of the forest, the wind had scattered them around and had covered the ground. In every direction, waterfalls cascaded down from great heights, descending with a large roar on uneven rocks, and seeming to deafen everyone. On every side, there was an extensive canopy and shade, caused by the large branches of trees—patala, kadamba, nimba, hintala, sarja, bandhuka, tinduka, kapittha, panasa, ashoka, mango, inguda, ashana, naga, champaka, punnaga, kovidara, priyangu, priyala, nipa, bakula, bandhuka, aksha, tamalaka, grapes, madhuka, amalaka, jambu, kankola, jati, bilva, arjuna, karanja, bijapuraka, pichula, ambashtha, kanaka, vaikankata, shami, dhava, putrajiva, abhaya, arishta, loha, udumbara and pippala. (I will refrain from explaining what these trees were.) There were many other beautiful trees in every direction. They extended continuously for a long distance and covered the place with shade. They were so dense that the rays of the sun could not reach the ground. There were many ripe fruits and surviving on these, the monkeys were well-nourished and strong. Here and there, hundreds of streams of water flowed from between the rocks. Many of them gushed out suddenly. Hundreds of rivers flowed over the uneven terrain, great in force. There were large lakes, filled with lotuses and water lilies. In every direction, these lakes were adorned with flocks of many kinds of birds.”

The regions were beautiful, adorned with many kinds of colourful minerals. The mountain was adorned with sparkling jewels and herbs. In some places, the wind caused dry trees to rub against each other and caused fires

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“The great-minded Rama entered the dense forest there. He wandered around and approached a large tree that grew in a solitary spot. As the does glanced at him with suspicious eyes, he was overjoyed at their charming glances. There, the breeze bore along the delightful fragrances of the forest. As the breeze fanned him, he was happy and looked at the extensive beauty of the forest. He thought, ‘How wonderful. Brahma has consecrated this as the king over all mountains and Himalaya has a share in sacrifices. It is abundantly clear that this is the emperor of mountains. Because of the sweet sound that whistles through the hollow bamboo, he has made this forest sweet. These heaps of snow are clinging to its hips. It appears as if this radiant mountain has covered itself with a white piece of cloth from every side. On top of these heaps of dense snow, the mountain seems to have covered itself with an upper garment of many hues, made out of sandalwood, aloe, camphor, musk and kumkuma. The decorations on the limbs are evident and can be seen, resembling those of a sensual person. Gigantic elephants have been struck by lions, and large pearls have been dislodged from their temples, illuminating the mountain on every side. The summits are ornamented with many trees, creepers, winding plants and flowers. It is ornamented by a canopy of thick and continuous clouds. The limbs of the mountain are decorated with many kinds of minerals. It is adorned with every kind of jewel. The radiant Kailasa adorns it, like a radiant and white umbrella. The mountain’s residence is a cave and the large entrance is illuminated by jewels. He is seated on a throne, in the centre of that isolated cave. There are trees in all directions, acting like guards with canes in their hands. Like an emperor, the great king can be seen by people, but cannot be approached by them. Yaks roam around here and there and seem to fan him with their whisks. Peacocks and others dance and kinnaras sing his praise. There are many radiant beings who are serving him. It is evident that this Indra among mountains has been instated in a position of kingship. With his prosperity and energy, he transcends and covers the entire earth.’ There was a large lake with sparkling water. It was beautiful, adorned with clumps of kumudas, utpalas, pankajas and kalharas. They were red and yellow, white and blue. From every direction, the place was decorated with many other aquatic trees. There were hundreds of swans, cranes, gallinules, jivanjivakas, chakravakas, ospreys and bees. A gentle breeze blew from all sides. Here and there, schools of saphari and other fish swam. Because of the internal waves, it seemed as if the lake was dancing. All along the banks, many kinds of birds called in melodious tones.”

In the next column, we will learn about what Parashurama did there.

About The Author

Bibek Debroy

Bibek Debroy has translated the Mahabharata and the Valmiki Ramayana into English. He is the Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister

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