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Vindhya Range

Coordinates:23°28′0″N79°44′25″E/ 23.46667°N 79.74028°E/23.46667; 79.74028
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"Vindhya" redirects here. For other uses, seeVindhya (disambiguation).

Vindhya Range
Vindhyachal, Vindhyas
Highest point
Coordinates23°28′0″N79°44′25″E/ 23.46667°N 79.74028°E/23.46667; 79.74028
Naming
Etymology"Obstructor" or "Hunter" (Sanskrit)
Geography
Vindhya Range is located in India
Vindhya Range
Vindhya Range
Topographic map of India showing the highest point of the Vindhya range
CountryIndia
StatesMadhya Pradesh,Chhattisgarh,Gujarat,Southern parts ofUttar PradeshandBihar
Borders onSatpura RangeandChota Nagpur Plateau

TheVindhya Range(also known asVindhyachal) (pronounced[ʋɪnd̪ʱjə]) is a complex, discontinuouschain of mountainridges,hill ranges, highlands and plateauescarpmentsin west-centralIndia.

Technically, the Vindhyas do not form a single mountain range in the geological sense. The exact extent of the Vindhyas is loosely defined, and historically, the term covered a number of distinct hill systems in central India, including the one that is now known as theSatpura Range.Today, the term principally refers to theescarpmentand its hilly extensions that runs north of and roughly parallel to theNarmada RiverinMadhya Pradesh.Depending on the definition, the range extends up toGujaratin the west,Uttar PradeshandBiharin the north, andChhattisgarhin the east. The average elevation of the Vindhyas is also dependent on different sources.

The word Vindhya is derived from theSanskritwordvaindh(to obstruct) and is in reference to a mythological story. The Vindhya range is also known as "Vindhyachala" or "Vindhyachal"; the suffixachala(Sanskrit) orachal(Hindi) refers to a mountain.[1][2]

The Vindhyas have a great significance inIndian mythologyandhistory.Several ancient texts mention the Vindhyas as the southern boundary of theĀryāvarta,the territory of the ancientIndo-Aryan peoples.Although todayIndo-Aryan languagesare spoken south of the Vindhyas, the range continues to be considered as the traditional boundary betweennorthandsouth India.The formerVindhya Pradeshwas named after the Vindhya Range.

Etymology and names[edit]

According to the author of a commentary onAmarakosha,the word Vindhya derives from theSanskritwordvaindh(to obstruct). A mythological story (seebelow) states that the Vindhyas once obstructed the path of the sun, resulting in this name.[3]TheRamayanastates that the great mountain Vindhya that was growing incessantly and obstructing the path of the Sun stopped growing any more in obedience to Agastya's words.[4]According to another theory, the name "Vindhya" means "hunter" in Sanskrit, and may refer to thetribalhunter-gatherersinhabiting the region.[5]

The Vindhya range is also known as "Vindhyachala" or "Vindhyachal"; the suffixachala(Sanskrit) orachal(Hindi) refers to a mountain.[1][2]In theMahabharata,the range is also referred to asVindhyapadaparvata.The Greek geographerPtolemycalled the range Vindius or Ouindion, describing it as the source of Namados (Narmada) and Nanagouna (Tapti) rivers. The "Daksinaparvata" ( "Southern Mountain" ) mentioned in theKaushitaki Upanishadis also identified with the Vindhyas.[6]

Extent[edit]

The Vindhyas do not form a single range in the proper geological sense: the hills collectively known as the Vindhyas do not lie along ananticlinalorsynclinalridge.[7]The Vindhya range is actually a group of discontinuous chain of mountainridges,hill ranges, highlands and plateauescarpments.The term "Vindhyas" is defined by convention, and therefore, the exact definition of the Vindhya range has varied at different times in history.

Historical definitions[edit]

Vindhya range seen from Mandav, Madhya Pradesh

Earlier, the term "Vindhyas" was used in a wider sense and included a number of hill ranges between theIndo-Gangetic plainand theDeccan Plateau.According to the various definitions mentioned in the older texts, the Vindhyas extend up to theGodavariin the south and theGangesin the north.[3]

In certainPuranas,the term Vindhya specifically covers the mountain range located between theNarmadaand theTaptirivers; that is, the one which is now known as theSatpura Range.[5][8]TheVaraha Puranauses the name "Vindhya-pada" ( "foot of the Vindhyas" ) for the Satpura range.

Several ancient Indian texts and inscriptions (e.g. theNasik PrasastiofGautamiputra Satakarni) mention three mountain ranges in Central India: Vindhya (or "Vindhya proper" ),Rksa(also Rksavat or Riksha) andPariyatra(or Paripatra). The three ranges are included in the sevenKula Parvatas( "clan mountains" ) ofBharatavarsha,that is, India. The exact identification of these three ranges is difficult due to contrasting descriptions in the various texts. For example, theKurma,MatsyaandBrahmandaPuranas mention Vindhya as the source of Tapti; whileVishnuandBrahmaPuranas mention the Rksa as its source.[9]Some texts use the term Vindhyas to describe all the hills in Central India.[citation needed]

In one passage,Valmiki'sRamayanadescribes Vindhya as being situated to the south ofKishkindha(Ramayana IV-46. 17), which is identified with a part of the present-dayKarnataka.It further implies that the sea was located just to the south of the Vindhyas, andLankawas located across this sea. Many scholars have attempted to explain this anomaly in different ways. According to one theory, the term "Vindhyas" covered a number of mountains to the south of the Indo-Aryan territories at the time Ramayana was written. Others, such asFrederick Eden Pargiter,believe that there was another mountain in South India, with the same name.[10]Madhav Vinayak Kibeplaced the location of Lanka in Central India.[11]

TheBarabar Cave inscriptionof theMaukhariruler Anantavarman mentions the Nagarjuni hill of Bihar as a part of the Vindhyas.[6]

Present-day definition[edit]

Map of prominent mountain ranges in India, showing Vindhyas in central India

Today, the definition of the Vindhyas is primarily restricted to the Central Indian escarpments, hills and highlands located to the north of theNarmada River.[5]Some of these are actually distinct hill systems.[12]

The western end of the Vindhya range is located in the state ofGujarat,near the state's border withRajasthanandMadhya Pradesh,at the eastern side of theKathiawarpeninsula. A series of hills connects the Vindhya extension to theAravalli RangenearChampaner.The Vindhya range rises in height east ofChhota Udaipur.[13]

The principal Vindhya range forms the southern escarpment of the Central Indian upland. It runs roughly parallel to the Naramada river in the east-west direction, forming the southern wall of theMalwaplateau in Madhya Pradesh.

The eastern portion of the Vindhyas comprises multiple chains, as the range divides into branches east of Malwa. A southern chain of Vindhyas runs between the upper reaches of theSonand Narmada rivers to meet the Satpura Range in theMaikal HillsnearAmarkantak.A northern chain of the Vindhyas continues eastwards asBhander PlateauandKaimur Range,which runs north of theSon River.[14]This extended range runs through what was onceVindhya Pradesh,reaching up to theKaimur districtof Bihar. The branch of the Vindhya range spanning acrossBundelkhandis known as the Panna range.[6]Another northern extension (known as the Vindhyachal hills) runs up toUttar Pradesh,stopping before the shores ofGangaat multiple places, includingVindhyachalandChunar(Mirzapur District), nearVaranasi.

TheVindhyan tablelandis a plateau that lies to the north of the central part of the range. TheRewa-Pannaplateaus are also collectively known as the Vindhya plateau.

Elevation[edit]

Different sources vary on the average elevation of the Vindhyas, depending on their definition of the range. M. C. Chaturvedi mentions the average elevation as 300 metres (980 ft).[15]Pradeep Sharma states that the "general elevation" of the Vindhyas is 300–650 metres (980–2,130 ft), with the range rarely going over 700 metres (2,300 ft) during its 1,200 kilometres (750 mi) extent.[14]

The highest point of the Vindhyas is the Sad-bhawna Shikhar ( "Goodwill Peak" ), which lies 752 metres (2,467 ft) above the sea level.[16]Also known as the Kalumar peak or Kalumbe peak, it lies nearSingrampurin theDamoh district,in the area known as Bhanrer or Panna hills.[7]Historical texts includeAmarkantak(1,000 m+ or 3,300 ft+) in the Vindhyas, but today, it is considered a part of theMaikal Range,which is considered as an extension of the Satpuras.[17]

Vindhyas as seen fromBhimbetka

Cultural significance[edit]

The Vindhyas are seen as the southern boundary ofAryavartain this map. Note that historically, the term "Vindhyas" covered the Satpura range that lies to the south of Narmada.

The Vindhyas are regarded as the traditional geographical boundary between northern and southern India,[18]and have a distinguished status in both mythology and geography of India.[3]In the ancient Indian texts, the Vindhyas are seen as the demarcating line between the territories of theIndo-Aryansand that of the others.[5]The most ancient Hindu texts consider it as the southern boundary ofAryavarta.[3]TheMahabharatamentions that theNishadasand otherMlecchatribes reside in the forests of the Vindhyas.[19]Although the Indo-Aryan languages (such asMarathiandKonkani) spread to the south of Vindhyas later, the Vindhyas continued to be seen as the traditional boundary between the north and the south of India.[3][20]

Vindhyas appear prominently in the Indian mythological tales. Although the Vindhyas are not very high, historically, they were considered highly inaccessible and dangerous due to dense vegetation and the hostile tribes residing there.[21][22]In the older Sanskrit texts, such as theRamayana,they are described as the unknown territory infested withcannibalsanddemons.[23]The later texts describe the Vindhya range as the residence of fierce form ofShakti(goddessKaliorDurga), who has lived there since slaying the demons. She is described asVindhyavasini( "Vindhya dweller" ), and a temple dedicated to her is located in theVindhyachaltown of Uttar Pradesh.[24][25]TheMahabharatamentions the Vindhyas as the "eternal abode" of Kali.[26]

According to one legend, the Vindhya mountain once competed with theMount Meru,growing so high that it obstructed the sun. The sageAgastyathen asked Vindhya to lower itself, in order to facilitate his passage across to the south. In reverence for Agastya, the Vindhya lowered its height and promised not to grow until Agastya returned to the north. Agastya settled in the south, and the Vindhya mountain, true to its word, never grew further.[27]

The Kishkindha Kanda of Valmiki's Ramayana mentions thatMayabuilt a mansion in the Vindhyas.[28]InDashakumaracharita,the King Rajahamsa of Magadha and his ministers create a new colony in the Vindhya forest, after being forced out of their kingdom following a war defeat.

A map of the "Vindhyan Series" from Geological Survey of India (1871)

The Vindhyas are one of the only two mountain ranges mentioned in thenational anthem of India,the other being the Himalayas.[29]

Rivers[edit]

Several tributaries of the Ganga-Yamuna system originate from the Vindhyas.[20]These includeChambal,Betwa,Dhasan,Sunar,Ken,Tamsa,Kali SindhandParbati.The northern slopes of the Vindhyas are drained by these rivers.

NarmadaandSonrivers drain the southern slopes of the Vindhyas. Both these rivers rise in the Maikal hills, which are now defined as an extension of the Satpuras, although several older texts use the term Vindhyas to cover them (seeHistorical definitionsabove).

Geology and palaeontology[edit]

The "Vindhyan Supergroup" is one of the largest and thickestsedimentarysuccessionsin the world.[30]

The earliest knownmulticellularfossilsofeukaryotes(filamentous algae) have been discovered from Vindhya basin dating back to 1.6 to 1.7 billion years ago.[31]Shelled creatures are documented to have first evolved at the start of the Cambrian 'explosion of life', about 550 million years ago.[32]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toVindhyas.
  1. ^abPrabhakar Patil (2004).Myths and Traditions in India.BPI. p. 75.ISBN9788186982792.
  2. ^abAnura Goonasekera; Cees J. Hamelink; Venkat Iyer, eds. (2003).Cultural Rights in a Global World.Eastern Universities Press. p. 186.ISBN9789812102355.
  3. ^abcdeKalidasa, HH Wilson (1843).The Mégha dúta; or, Cloud messenger.pp.19–20.
  4. ^"Sloka & Translation | Valmiki Ramayanam".valmiki.iitk.ac.in.Retrieved2 April2018.
  5. ^abcdEdward Balfour (1885).The Cyclopædia of India and of Eastern and Southern Asia, Commercial Industrial, and Scientific: Products of the Mineral, Vegetable, and Animal Kingdoms, Useful Arts and Manufactures.Bernard Quaritch. pp. 1017–1018.
  6. ^abcPK Bhattacharya (1977).Historical Geography of Madhya Pradesh from Early Records.Motilal Banarsidass.pp. 60–69.ISBN978-81-208-3394-4.
  7. ^abWilliam Wilson Hunter (1908).Imperial Gazetteer of India.Clarendon Press. p. 316.
  8. ^James Outram (1853).A few brief Memoranda of some of the public services rendered by Lieut.-Colonel Outram, C. B.: Printed for private circulation.Smith Elder and Company. p.31.
  9. ^Harihar Panda (2007).Professor H.C. Raychaudhuri, as a Historian.Northern Book Centre. pp. 128–130.ISBN978-81-7211-210-3.
  10. ^Vasudev Vishnu Mirashi (1 January 1975).Literary and Historical Studies in Indology.Motilal Banarsidass. p. 212.ISBN978-81-208-0417-3.
  11. ^Madhav Vinayak Kibe(1947).Location of Lanka.Pune: Manohar Granthamala. p. 16.OCLC33286332.
  12. ^W.W. Hunter (2013).The Indian Empire: Its People, History and Products.Routledge. p. 35.ISBN978-1-136-38301-4.
  13. ^VN Kulkarni."Physical Geology of Gujarat"(PDF).Public Works Department, Government of Gujarat.Retrieved20 June2014.
  14. ^abPradeep Sharma (2007).Human Geography: The Land.Discovery Publishing House. p. 209.ISBN978-81-8356-290-4.
  15. ^Mahesh Chandra Chaturvedi (27 August 2012).Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna Waters: Advances in Development and Management.CRC Press. p. 19.ISBN978-1-4398-7376-2.
  16. ^"Places of Interest".DIETHatta.Retrieved20 June2014.
  17. ^K. Sankaran Unni (1996).Ecology of River Narmada.APH Publishing. p. 15.ISBN978-81-7024-765-4.
  18. ^Noboru Karashima(2014).A Concise History of South India.Oxford University Press. p. xviii.ISBN978-0-19-809977-2.
  19. ^Ved Vyasa (1886).The Mahabharata (12.58.3211).Translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli. Bhārata Press.
  20. ^abM.S. Kohli (2002).Mountains of India: Tourism, Adventure and Pilgrimage.Indus Publishing. p. 32.ISBN978-81-7387-135-1.
  21. ^John Avery (1880)."Influence of the Aryans upon the Aboriginal speech of India".The American Antiquarian.3.Jameson & Morse: 122.
  22. ^Jürgen Neuß (2012).Narmadāparikramā – Circumambulation of the Narmadā River: On the Tradition of a Unique Hindu Pilgrimage.BRILL. p. 20.ISBN978-90-04-22857-3.
  23. ^Stephen Vincent Brennan (January 2006).Classic Legendary Hero Stories: Extraordinary Tales of Honor, Courage, and Valor.Globe Pequot Press. p. 5.ISBN978-1-59228-872-4.
  24. ^Cynthia Ann Humes(1998)."Vindhyavasini: Local Goddess yet Great Goddess".In John Stratton Hawley; Donna M. Wulff (eds.).Devī: Goddesses of India.Motilal Banarsidass. p. 49.ISBN978-81-208-1491-2.
  25. ^Vanamali (21 July 2008).Shakti: Realm of the Divine Mother.Inner Traditions / Bear & Co. p. 166.ISBN978-1-59477-785-1.
  26. ^Ved Vyasa (1886).The Mahabharata (4.6.232).Translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli. Bhārata Press.
  27. ^Roshen Dalal (2014).The Religions of India: A Concise Guide to Nine Major Faiths.Penguin Books Limited. p. 124.ISBN978-81-8475-396-7.
  28. ^Swami Parmeshwaranand (2001).Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Puranas.Sarup & Sons. p. 871.ISBN978-81-7625-226-3.
  29. ^Edgar Thorpe; Showick Thorpe (2008).Pearson General Knowledge Manual 2009.Pearson Education India. pp. 323–326.ISBN978-81-317-2300-5.
  30. ^Jyotiranjan S Ray (February 2006)."Age of the Vindhyan Supergroup: A review of recent findings"(PDF).Journal of Earth System Science.115(1): 149–160.doi:10.1007/BF02703031.S2CID129093679.
  31. ^Bengtson, S.; Belivanova, V.; Rasmussen, B.; Whitehouse, M. (May 2009)."The controversial" Cambrian "fossils of the Vindhyan are real but more than a billion years older"(PDF).Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.106(19): 7729–7734.Bibcode:2009PNAS..106.7729B.doi:10.1073/pnas.0812460106.ISSN0027-8424.PMC2683128.PMID19416859.
  32. ^Rex Dalton & Killugudi Jayaraman (22 April 2009)."Indian fossil find resolves fraud accusations".Nature.doi:10.1038/news.2009.383.
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