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170
TILAKAMANJARĪ OF DHANAPĀLA
Maināka is a triple fold range of hills, one being called the Sivālika range spreading between the Gangā and the Beas rivers, the second being in the north of Almodā district near the source of Gangā while the third ranging between India and Ceylon a mountain standing on the sea and a particular mountain in western India near Gujarāta. This is a testimony of Mahābhārata. Kālidāsa's version of Maināka places this mountain between India and Lankā on the sea. In Deccan, as also in the distant plateaus of Deccan there are deltas of Revā, Godāvarī , Kāverī and Tāmraparņi rivers. Kālidāsa has referred to these also.? Dhanapāla's description of Maināka is also Paurāņic.
He calls Maināka, son of Mainaka spouse of Himācala that jumped into the ocean frightened by the bolt of Indra.
मैनाकेन महार्णवे हरतनौ सत्या प्रवेशे कृते। येनैकेन हिमाचलो शिखारिणां पत्रीतिलक्ष्योऽभवत्।।
Ayodhyā surrounded by a circle of moat having the reflection of a controvallation gave the look of Maināka entering into the ocean. Even Harivāhana has been construed surrounded as he was by princes as Maināka plunged into the ocean. At another spot Samaraketu describes the scaling of the ranges of hills of the group of Maināka while moving out of Lankā (Rangaśālā etc.). It can imply the range of Maināka hills between Lankā and the sea on the seashore, Maināka being a smaller range of the Himālaya dragged on to the ocean by the natural outrages of Indra, the god of rain and thunder." Himālaya, Kailāśā, Meru, Mandara, Hemakūta, Ratnakūta and Krauñca are all varsaparvatas mentioned by Dhanapāla.
According to Dr. D.K. Gupta' Himālaya known variously is the great mountain range extending from Kāśmīra to Assam while Meru is the Rudra Himālaya of Garhwal where Gangā springs near Badarikāśrama. Mandara is situated to the north of Badarikāśrama and south of Gandhamādana.
Kailāśa is probably Svangrin pooch of the Tibetans which is situated to the east of the Nīti pass twenty five miles north of Mānasarovara ahead of
1. Vanaparva, Ch. 89.11 2. KKB Part I pp. 35-36. 3. TM Introductory verse 38. 4. Ibid. Vol. I p. 44, Vol. II p. 227. 5. Ibid. Vol. II pp. 234-35. 6. Ibid. Vol. III pp. 294-95. 7. KSN p. 110 and HGAI p. 131.
