Himavat Varsha

Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

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Himavat Varsha (हैमवतवर्ष) is name of a country mentioned in Mahabharata.

Variants

• Himavat (हिमवत)
• Haimavata Varsha (हैमवतवर्ष) (AS, p.1030)
• Himavata Varsha (हिमवतवर्ष)
• Himavatavarsha (हिमवतवर्ष)
• Himavat-varsha (हिमवत-वर्ष)
• Himavatvarsha (हिमवतवर्ष)

In Mahabharata

Haimavata (हिमवत) is mentioned in (II.47.19), (3-255-5a), (3-255-6a), (VI.11.2), (VI.11.14)

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Sabha Parva, Mahabharata/Book II Chapter 47 mentions the Kings who brought tributes to Yudhishthira: Haimavata (हिमवत) is mentioned in (II.47.19)....."I also saw numberless Chinas and Sakas and Udras and many barbarous tribes living in the woods, and many Vrishnis and Harahunas, and dusky tribes of the Himavat, and many Nipas and people residing in regions on the sea-coast, waiting at the gate being refused permission to enter".

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Karna's conquests: Vana Parva, Mahabharata/Book III Chapter 255 describes Karna's victory march and countries subjugated..... that mighty bowman, Karna, surrounded by a large army, besieged the beautiful city of Drupada (Drupadapura) (द्रुपदपुर) (3-255-1b). And he, after a hard conflict, brought the hero under subjection, and, O best of monarchs, made Drupada contribute silver and gold and gems, and also pay tribute. And having subdued him, (Karna) brought under subjection those princes that were under him (Drupada) and made them pay tribute. Then going to the north, he subdued the sovereigns (of that quarter) and having effected the defeat of Bhagadatta (भगदत्त) (3-255-4b) , Radha's son ascended that mighty mountain Himavat (हिमवन्त) (3-255-5a), all along fighting his foes. And ranging all sides, he conquered and brought under subjection all the kings inhabiting the Himavat (3-255-6a), and made them pay dues.

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Bhisma Parva, Mahabharata/Book VI Chapter 11 mentions about Bharatavarsha, Himavat-varsha & Hari-varsha. Harivarsha (हरिवर्ष) is mentioned in Mahabharata (VI.11.2)...."Dhritarashtra said,--'Tell me, O Sanjaya, of the period of life, the strength, the good and bad things, the future, past and present, of the residents, O Suta, of this Varsha of Bharata, and of the Himavat-varsha, as also of Hari-varsha, in detail."

Harivarsha (हरिवर्ष) is mentioned in Mahabharata (VI.11.14). ....The Varsha known as Himavat is superior to Bharatavarsha, while Harivarsha is superior to Himavatvarsha, in respect of all qualities.'

हैमवतवर्ष

विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर ने लेख किया है ...हैमवतवर्ष (AS, p.1030) पौराणिक भूगोल के अनुसार हेमकूट के दक्षिण में स्थित प्रदेश. यह हिमालय पर्वतमाला से घिरा हुआ प्रदेश है, जिसमें तिब्बत आदि स्थित है. यह हिमवान (हिमालय) के नाम पर ही प्रसिद्ध था.