The Location of Malaya
By Dineshchandra Sircar
Summary
Dines Chandra Sircar’s note The Location of Malaya seeks to identify the mountain called Malaya in classical Indian literature. Sircar examines references in the Purāṇas, Mahābhārata, Raghuvaṁśa and works of Kalidasa, which list Malaya among the seven principal mountain ranges of India. He assesses earlier theories that associated Malaya with the Malay Peninsula or mountains of Sumatra. Drawing on internal geographical descriptions, he argues that Malaya must be within the Indian subcontinent. Sircar suggests that the Malaya range corresponds to the southernmost portion of the Western Ghats, stretching through present‑day Kerala and Tamil Nadu. He notes that these mountains were known for their sandalwood, pearls and spices in ancient times, matching descriptions of Malaya as rich in fragrant woods and gems. The article also refers to travellers’ accounts and Tamil literature that mention the Malaya hills and their proximity to the Chera kingdom. By rejecting far‑flung identifications, Sircar emphasises that ancient Indian cosmography was internally consistent and that place names should be interpreted within regional contexts. His note thereby clarifies a long‑standing geographical puzzle.
Conclusion
Sircar concludes that the Malaya mountain of classical Indian texts refers to the southern segment of the Western Ghats rather than the Malay Peninsula. This localisation aligns textual descriptions with Indian geography and resolves confusion over Malaya’s identity.