Hemakuta

Summary

Hemakuta (or Hemakita), referred to as the "golden-peaked mountain," is described in ancient Indian texts as running north of the Himavat mountain, with the Nisadha Parvata to its north. These three mountains—Himavat, Hemakuta, and Nisadha—are depicted as stretching east to west, their ends reaching the eastern and western oceans. Hemakuta was also known as Hemaparvata or Kailasa and was considered part of the Varshaparvatas, which formed boundary lines between different divisions (Varsas) of the land. The Bhagavata Purana (5, 11, 9) identifies Hemakuta as the boundary of the Kimpurusa Varsa, while the Nigadha Parvata bordered the Uttarakuru region, possibly including parts of Tibet. Geographical accounts in the Puranas suggest Hemakuta was likely identified with the Kuen-lun mountain ranges south of Tibet, covered in perpetual snow. This aligns with the idea that the Puranas' geographical descriptions were based on southern perspectives. The Hemakuta range is thought to have extended from the northern part of Kashmir toward the east. The Kimpurusa Varsa, associated with the Kinnaras (a nomadic group linked to the Scythians), is said to have settled near Hemakuta after migrating southward. The Kadambari mentions Hemakuta in connection with Candrapida's conquest, describing it as the abode of the Kiritas, though this raises questions about its identification with Kashmir's hills. Some texts equate Hemakuta with Kailasa, while others distinguish them, suggesting Kailasa was part of