Rishyamuka

Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

Rishyamuka (ऋष्यमूक) is a mountain near Vijayanagara in south India, mentioned in Ramayana.

Origin

Variants

Rishyamuka Parvata (ऋष्यमूक पर्वत) (AS, p.108)
Rishyamuka Mountain
Mount Rishyamuka

History

Two important legends associated with Hampi, the core area of Vijayanagar, had an important part in making it a pilgrim destination for several centuries prior to the Vijayanagara era. One legend describes a local Goddess, Pampa, who married Virupaksha (Lord Shiva) on the Hemakuta Hill and was thereafter considered to be an incarnation of Parvati. From Pampa came the name Pampe or (in Kannada) Hampe.

The other legend draws on the epic Ramayana in which Lord Rama and his brother, Lakshmana, searched for Sita in the vicinity of the ancient capital of Kishkindha and met Hanuman on Rishyamuka Hill. Sugreeva, the Vanara king in exile, and Rama made a covenant to mutually help each other find Sita and get rid of the evil King Vali. This agreement is celebrated by the presence of a temple in which are icons of Lord Rama, Lakshmana and Sugreeva. Hanuman, the devout follower of Rama, is said to have been born on Anjenadri Hill near the Tungabhadra river facing Hampi. Hence his name is Anjaneya. A shrine located here with a rock carving of Hanuman marks his place of birth. The Chintamani ashram on the bank of the river near Anegondi marks the spot where Sugriva fought Vali and the location of Vali's death at the hands of Lord Rama. At the extreme northeast corner of Vijayanagara is a mound believed to be the burial place of Vali, according to John McKim Malville. ^[1]

Archaeology traces the history of Hampi to neolithic settlements while inscriptional evidence confirms that in more recent times the area came under the rule of the Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas and finally the tiny kingdom of Kampili.

The legendary association of this area with Lord Virupaksha (Harihara and Bukka Raya being of Shaiva faith) and Lord Rama (the personification of the perfect king) was not lost on the empire's founders. Its natural ruggedness and inaccessibility must have been additional reasons to choose this location for the capital of the new empire.^[2] During the empire's rule, Vijayanagara was known as one of the most beautiful cities in India.^[3]

A copper plate inscription (Tamarashasana) of Marappa (one of the Sangama brothers) is dated 1346 and traces the Sangama genealogy, identifying the Sangama family deity (gotradhidaivam) as Lord Virupaksha of Hampi.^[4] Inscriptions attesting to the elevation of Lord Virupaksha to Rashtra devata (God of the Kingdom) have been found. By the time of Bukka I, the capital had already grown into a great capital and inscriptions call it great Nagari named Vijaya situated in Hemakuta.^[5]

ऋष्यमूक पर्वत

विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर^[6] ने लेख किया है ...ऋष्यमूक पर्वत (AS, p.108) वाल्मीकि रामायण में वर्णित वानरों की राजधानी किष्किंधा के निकट स्थित था। इसी पर्वत पर श्री राम की हनुमान से भेंट हुई थी। बाद में हनुमान ने राम और सुग्रीव की भेंट करवाई, जो एक अटूट मित्रता बन गई। जब महाबलि बालि ने अपने भाई सुग्रीव को मारकर किष्किंधा से भागा तो वह ऋष्यमूक पर्वत पर ही आकर छिपकर रहने लगा था। उसने सीता हरण के पश्चात् राम और लक्ष्मण को इसी पर्वत पर पहली बार देखा था- 'तावृष्यमूकस्य समीपचारी चरन् ददर्शद्भुत दर्शनीयौ, शाखामृगाणमधिपस्तरश्ची वितत्रसे नैव विचेष्टचेष्टाम्' (किष्किंधा., 1,128)

अर्थात् "ऋष्यमूक पर्वत के समीप भ्रमण करने वाले अतीव सुन्दर राम-लक्ष्मण को वानर राज सुग्रीव ने देखा। वह डर गया और उनके प्रति क्या करना चाहिए, इस बात का निश्चय न कर सका।"

श्रीमद्भागवत में भी ऋष्यमूक का उल्लेख है- 'सह्योदेवगिरिर्ऋष्यमूक: श्रीशैलो वैंकटो महेन्द्रो वारिधारो विंध्य:।' (श्रीमद्भागवत 5,19,16) तुलसीरामायण, किष्किंधा कांड में ऋष्यमूक पर्वत पर राम-लक्ष्मण के पहुँचने का इस प्रकार उल्लेख है- 'आगे चले बहुरि रघुराया, ऋष्यमूक पर्वत नियराया।'

दक्षिण भारत में प्राचीन विजयनगर साम्राज्य के खंडहरों अथवा हम्पी में विरूपाक्ष मन्दिर से कुछ ही दूर पर स्थित एक पर्वत को ऋष्यमूक कहा जाता है। जनश्रुति के अनुसार यही रामायण का ऋष्यमूक है। मंदिर को घेरे हुए तुंगभद्रा नदी बहती है। ऋष्यमूक तथा तुंगभद्रा के घेरे को चक्रतीर्थ [p.109]: कहा जाता है। चक्रतीर्थ के उत्तर में ऋष्यमूक और दक्षिण में श्री राम का मंदिर है। मंदिर के निकट सूर्य और सुग्रीव आदि की मूर्तियाँ स्थापित हैं। प्राचीन किष्किंधा नगरी की स्थिति यहाँ से 2 मील दूर, तुंगभद्रा नदी के वामतट पर, अनागुंदी नामक ग्राम में मानी जाती है।

ऋष्यमूक पर्वत रामायण की घटनाओं से सम्बद्ध दक्षिण भारत का पवित्र पर्वत है। विरूपाक्ष मन्दिर के पास से ऋष्यमूक पर्वत तक के लिए मार्ग जाता है। यहीं सुग्रीव और राम की मैत्री हुई थी। यहाँ तुंगभद्रा नदी धनुष के आकार में बहती है। तुंगभद्रा नदी में पौराणिक चक्रतीर्थ माना गया है। पास ही पहाड़ी के नीचे श्री राम मन्दिर है। पास की पहाड़ी को 'मतंग पर्वत' माना जाता है। इसी पर्वत पर मतंग ऋषि का आश्रम था। पास ही चित्रकूट और जालेन्द्र नाम के शिखर भी हैं। यहीं तुंगभद्रा के उस पार दुन्दुभि पर्वत दिखाई देता है, जिसके सहारे सुग्रीव ने श्री राम के बल की परीक्षा करायी थी। इन स्थानों में स्नान और ध्यान करने का विशेष महत्त्व है।^[7]

चक्रतीर्थ

विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर^[8] ने लेख किया है ...3. चक्रतीर्थ (AS, p.325): किष्किंधा के निकट ऋष्यमूकपर्वत और तुंगभद्रा नदी के घेरे को चक्रतीर्थ कहा जाता है.

In Ramayana

Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 1 mentions that the mighty Vanara hero Sugriva, moving on the Rishyamuka Mountain sees Rama and Lakshmana entering into his territory, flees into deep forests, fearing them to be enemies. Rishyamuka is mentioned in verse (4-1-128). ^[9] ....He who is the chief of Vanaras, who moves about Mount Rishyamuka, while he is meandering thereabout he happened to see those two who are so amazing for a look, namely Rama and Lakshmana, by which he is so frightened that he is petrified. (4-1-128)

Kishkindha Kanda Sarga 46 mentions that Sugreeva's knowledge of physical world is acquired when Vali put him to flight. Rama enquires with Sugreeva as to how Sugreeva has many details of lands, countries, rivers, and mountains. In reply, Sugreeva says that when repulsed by Vali he was on the run to pillar to post, until he finally settled on Mount Rishyamuka. Rishyamuka is mentioned in verse (4-46-23b, 24).^[10]..."Oh, prince Rama, then Vali though reached Mount Rishyamuka, he did not enter into its precincts at that time fearing Sage Matanga and his curse, oh, king Rama, thus this globe of earth is apparently and closely sighted by me in its entirety, and then I came into the cave of Rishyamuka and did not stir out." So said Sugreeva to Rama. (4-46-23b, 24)

Aranya Kanda/Aranya Kanda Sarga 73 mentions that Kabandha extols Pampa Lake and details Rama about the course to be adopted to proceed to Mount Rishyamuka to befriend Sugreeva....Rishyamuka is mentioned in verse (3-73-31b, 32). ^[11] In front of Pampa there is a bountiful but an unclimbable mountain is there with trees in full blossom, which is well-protected by baby elephants, and which in earlier times was purposefully created by Brahma, and that alone is Mount Rishyamuka... (3-73-31b, 32)

External links

References

↑ New Light on Hampi, Recent research in Vijayanagara, edited by John M. Fritz and George Michell, MARG, 2001, p. 132
↑ Hampi, A Travel Guide, Department of Tourism, India, Good Earth publication, 2003, pp. 20–27
↑ Portuguese traveller Domingo Paes wrote in 1520 that in Vijayanagara, the streets were beautiful with beautiful houses having balconies and arcades, Hampi, A Travel Guide p70, Department of Tourism, India
↑ New Light on Hampi, Recent research in Vijayanagara, edited by John M. Fritz and George Michell, MARG, 2001, p. 13
↑ Epigraphia Carnatica, V, Hn 133; New Light on Hampi, Recent research in Vijayanagara, edited by John M. Fritz and George Michell, MARG, 2001, p. 22
↑ Aitihasik Sthanavali by Vijayendra Kumar Mathur, p.108-109
↑ भारतकोश-ऋष्यमूक
↑ Aitihasik Sthanavali by Vijayendra Kumar Mathur, p.324-325
↑ तौ ऋष्यमूकस्य समीप चारी चरन् ददर्श अद्भुत दर्शनीयौ । शाखा मृगाणाम् अधिपः तरस्वी वितत्रसे नैव चिचेष्ट चेष्टाम् ॥4-1-128॥
↑ तत्र वासः सुखो अस्माकम् निर्उद्विग्नो भविष्यति । ततः पर्वतम् आसाद्य ऋश्यमूकम् नृपात्मज ॥4-46-23॥ न विवेश तदा वाली मतंगस्य भयात् तदा । एवम् मया तदा राजन् प्रत्यक्षम् उपलक्षितम् । पृथिवी मण्डलम् सर्वम् गुहाम् अस्मि आगतः ततः ॥4-46-24॥
↑ ऋष्यमूकः तु पंपायाः पुरस्तात् पुष्पित द्रुमः ॥3-73-31॥ सु दुःख आरोहणः च एव शिशु नाग अभिरक्षितः। उदारो ब्रह्मणा चैव पूर्व काले विनिर्मितः ॥3-73-32॥

[1] New Light on Hampi, Recent research in Vijayanagara, edited by John M. Fritz and George Michell, MARG, 2001, p. 132

[2] Hampi, A Travel Guide, Department of Tourism, India, Good Earth publication, 2003, pp. 20–27

[3] Portuguese traveller Domingo Paes wrote in 1520 that in Vijayanagara, the streets were beautiful with beautiful houses having balconies and arcades, Hampi, A Travel Guide p70, Department of Tourism, India

[4] New Light on Hampi, Recent research in Vijayanagara, edited by John M. Fritz and George Michell, MARG, 2001, p. 13

[5] Epigraphia Carnatica, V, Hn 133; New Light on Hampi, Recent research in Vijayanagara, edited by John M. Fritz and George Michell, MARG, 2001, p. 22

[6] Aitihasik Sthanavali by Vijayendra Kumar Mathur, p.108-109

[7] भारतकोश-ऋष्यमूक

[8] Aitihasik Sthanavali by Vijayendra Kumar Mathur, p.324-325

[9] तौ ऋष्यमूकस्य समीप चारी चरन् ददर्श अद्भुत दर्शनीयौ । शाखा मृगाणाम् अधिपः तरस्वी वितत्रसे नैव चिचेष्ट चेष्टाम् ॥4-1-128॥

[10] तत्र वासः सुखो अस्माकम् निर्उद्विग्नो भविष्यति । ततः पर्वतम् आसाद्य ऋश्यमूकम् नृपात्मज ॥4-46-23॥ न विवेश तदा वाली मतंगस्य भयात् तदा । एवम् मया तदा राजन् प्रत्यक्षम् उपलक्षितम् । पृथिवी मण्डलम् सर्वम् गुहाम् अस्मि आगतः ततः ॥4-46-24॥

[11] ऋष्यमूकः तु पंपायाः पुरस्तात् पुष्पित द्रुमः ॥3-73-31॥ सु दुःख आरोहणः च एव शिशु नाग अभिरक्षितः। उदारो ब्रह्मणा चैव पूर्व काले विनिर्मितः ॥3-73-32॥

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