The *Matsyapurāṇa* <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/matsyapurana#purana> has praised the continent Bhārata <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/bharata#purana> thus:
yataḥ <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/yata#purana> svargaśca mokṣaśca madhyamaścapi hi smṛtaḥ / na khalvanyatra martyānāṃ bhūmau karmavidhiḥ smṛtaḥ// In its view, there is no country like Bhārata. Even it is superior to heaven, since the gods in heaven wish to take birth in Bhārata. Bhārata is the *karmabhūmi* <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/karmabhumi#purana>. It is the land of performing action. All fruits of human life <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/human-life#hinduism>, the seeds are in the soil of Bhārata. This *Purāṇa* <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/purana#purana> has given an elaborate description of Bhārata, which includes mountains, river, janapadas <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/janapada#purana> and many more. The mountains have been occupying a prominent place not only in Purāṇas <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/purana#purana> but also in other ancient literature. High and steep mountains with broad river valleys not only control and guide human movements but also influence the human settlements. The P*urāṇas* <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/urana#hinduism>, therefore, always introduce regions, lands or countries, big or small by means of their important mountains. However, the authors of the Purāṇas classify mountains according to their functional significances. For instance, the *Varṣa* <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/varsha#purana> Parvatas <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/parvata#purana>, *Maryādā* <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/maryada#purana> P*arvatas* <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/arvata#purana>, Keśarācalas, *Viṣkambha* <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vishkambha#purana> Parvatas and *Kūla* <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/kula#hinduism> Parvatas. This classification is quite helpful for the identification of land features on a relief map of a country. Many scholars have attempted to identify and locate those mountains on a modern map of India <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/india#purana>. As per the text of the *Matsyapurāṇa* there are seven Kūlaparvatas <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/kulaparvata#purana>, viz., Mahendra <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/mahendra#purana>, Malaya <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/malaya#purana>, Sahya <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/sahya#purana>, Śaktimān <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shaktiman#hinduism>, Ṛkṣamān, Vindhya <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vindhya#purana> and Pariyātra. In addition to these there are thousands of other mountains. These seven Kūlaparvatas of Bhārata are similarly enumerated in all authorities and their situations on the physical map of India may be determined with some confidence by the rivers rising from them. In spite of this, some controversies have accumulated with respect to the identification of some of these mountains which may be highlighted in the following paragraphs by discussing each one of the Kūlaparvatas separately. *Mahendra:* The *Matsyapurāṇa* mentions that the rivers arising from Mahendra mountain are: Tāmraparṇī <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/tamraparni#purana>, Mūlī <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/muli#purana>, Śaravā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/sharava#purana> and Vimala <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vimala#purana>. It is said by H.C.Roy Choudhury that Mahendra mountain is the chain of hills that extends from Ganjam of Orissa <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/orissa#hinduism> to Tennevely of Andhra <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/andhra#purana> Pradesh, a part of which is still called as *Mahendra **Malai* <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/malai#hinduism> in Ganjam. In other words, it is the existing Eastern Ghats <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/ghat#history> of India which runs almost parallel to the East Coast. *Malaya:* It is identified with the southern portion of the Western Ghats, i.e., the section from the *Nīlgiri* on the north, to the proximity of Cape Comorin on the south . In other words, this is the portion of Western Ghats situated on Malabar Coast and bears the common name. From the Malaya mountain, the following auspicious; rivers rise: Kṛtamālā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/kritamala#purana>, Tāmraparṇī, Puṣpajā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/pushpaja#purana> Utpalāvatī <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/utpalavati#purana>. *Sahya:* This mountain has been accurately identified with northern portion of the Western Ghats extending down from the Tapti on the north to the *Nilgiri* on the south. This name still continues throughout Maharashtra <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/maharashtra#purana> and Konkan. From the Sahya mountain the following rivers arise: Godāvarī <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/godavari#purana>, Bhimarathī, Kṛṣṇavenī, Vañjulā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vanjula#purana>, Tuṅgabhadrā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/tungabhadra#purana>, Suprayogā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/suprayoga#purana>, Vāhyā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vahya#purana>, Kāverī <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/kaveri#purana>. These are the rivers of Dakṣinapatha. Near the Sahya mountain there is a river Godāvarī and the region around it is said to be most charming. *Śaktiman or Śuktimān:* The identification of this mountain is covered by the greatest obscurity and extremely divergent opinions are held by the scholars. Dr. Raychoudhury suggests that the name Śuktimān <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shuktiman#purana> is probably applied to the chain of hills that extends from *Śukti* <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shukti#hinduism> in Raigarh district of Chhatisgarh to that of Dalma hills in the Manbhum (Bihar <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/bihar#history>) and perhaps to the hills in the Santhala Parganas <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/pargana#history> drained by the affluent river Babla. Prof. M. Ali explains that Śaktiman or Śuktimān is one of the seven principal ranges of peninsular India. However, it is not easy to identify these rivers. According to the *Matsyapurāṇa* the Suktimat <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shuktimat#purana> mountain is the source of the following rivers: Kāśikā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/kashika#purana>, Sukumārī <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/sukumari#purana>, Mandagā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/mandaga#purana>, Mandavāhinī <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/mandavahini#purana>, Kṛpā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/kripa#purana> and Pāsinī. They meet the ocean. They are described as auspicious, the mothers of the world and the destroyers of all sins. They have hundreds and thousands of tributaries and distributaries. *Ṛkṣa:* In the P*urāṇas*, sometimes Ṛkṣa <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/riksha#purana> has been confused with the V*indhya*. Perhaps, it implies the chain of the central Vindhya near about central Narmada <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/narmada#purana> region. Prof. S. M. Ali is very specific on giving the idea of *Ṛkṣa*. According to him, it represents the modern Vindhyas <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vindhyas#hinduism> from the source of the Sonar to the eastern limit of the ranges which mark the catchment area of the river Son. The *Matsyapurāṇa* describes many rivers which arise from this mountain. These are: Mandākinī <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/mandakini#purana>, Daśarṇā, Citrakūṭā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/citrakuta#purana>, Tamasā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/tamasa#purana>, Pippalī <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/pippali#purana>, Śyenī <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shyeni#purana>, Citrotpalā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/citrotpala#purana>, Vimala, Cañcalā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/cancala#purana>, Dhutavāhinī, Śuktimatī <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shuktimati#purana>, Śunī <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shuni#purana>, Lajjā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/lajja#purana>, Mukuṭā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/mukuta#purana> and Hradikā. *Vindhya:* Vindhyācala <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vindhyacala#hinduism> is well known mountain range which extends along the north of the Narmadā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/narmada#purana> up to Amarakantaka <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/amarakantaka#purana> on one hand <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/hand#hinduism> and up to Kumar range in the Son valley up to the Mirzapur area. Vindhya is the source of rivers like Sonā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shona#purana>, Narmadā, Mahānadī <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/mahanadi#purana>, Tamasā etc. However, in the *Matsyapurāṇa*, it is said that The Vindhya mountain is the source of the following rivers: Tāpī <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/tapi#purana>, Payoṣṇi, Nirvindhyā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/nirvindhya#purana>, Kṣiprā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/kshipra#purana>, Ṛṣabhā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/rishabha#purana>, Venā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vena#purana>, Viśvamālā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vishvamala#purana>, Kumudvatī <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/kumudvati#purana>, Toyā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/toya#purana>, Mahāgaurī <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/mahagauri#purana>, Durgamā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/durgama#purana> and Śilā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shila#purana>. *Pāriyātra:* It is the ring of ranges north of the Narmadā which nearly encircles the catchment area of the Chambal and the Betwā. It corresponds to the Aravallis and the present Western Vindhya i.e., west of Bhopal. Vedasmṛti <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vedasmriti#purana>, Vetravatī <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vetravati#purana>, Vṛtraghni, Sindhu <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/sindhu#purana>, Parṇāśā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/parnasha#purana>, Narmadā, Kāverī, Pārā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/para#purana>, Dhanvatī, Rūpā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/rupa#hinduism>, Viduṣā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vidusha#purana>, Venumatī <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/venumati#purana>, Śiprā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shipra#purana>, Avantī <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/avanti#purana> and Kuntī <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/kunti#purana> are the rivers arising from Pāriyātra <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/pariyatra#purana> mountain. The *Matsyapurāṇa* has also enumerated the rivers which rise from the Himalayas <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/himalaya#hinduism>. These are: Ganges <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/ganges#hinduism>, Sindhu, Sarasvatī <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/sarasvati#purana> Śatadru <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shatadru#purana>, Airāvatī <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/airavati#purana>, Vitastā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vitasta#purana>, Viśālā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vishala#purana>, Devikā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/devika#purana>, Kuhū <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/kuhu#purana>, Gomatī <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/gomati#purana>, Dhautapāpā, Bāhudā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/bahuda#purana>, Dṛṣadvatī <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/drishadvati#purana>,Kauśikī <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/kaushiki#purana>, Tṛtīyā <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/tritiya#purana>, Niścala <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/nishcala#purana>, Gaṇḍakī <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/gandaki#purana>, Ikṣu <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/ikshu#purana>, Lohita <https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/lohita#purana>. Most of these rivers are well-known rivers and their geographical identification is without any doubt. KR IRS 2523 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CAL5XZorA%3DCFSOGmgwESoaZnNpuuv6QyR9A-SMrUy8ES8LxcMtQ%40mail.gmail.com.
