Mount Abu

The ancient name of Mount Abu is Arbuda.[3] In the Puranas, the region has been referred to as Arbudaranya ("forest of Arbuda") and 'Abu' is a diminutive of this ancient name. It is believed that sage Vashistha retired to the southern spur at Mount Abu following his differences with sage Vishvamitra. There is another history story according to which a serpent named "Arbuda" saved the life of Nandi (Lord Shiva's bull). The incident happened on the mountain that is currently known as Mount Abu and so the mountain is named "Arbudaranya" after that incident which gradually became Abu.

According to a legend, the sage Vashistha performed a yajna at the peak of Mount Abu, to seek from the gods a provision for the defense of righteousness on earth. In answer to his prayer, a youth arose from the Agnikunda (fire-altar) — the first Agnivansha.[4][5] Achalgarh Fort is one of more attractive place which was built by Parmar kings.[6] The Dilwara Jain Temple is a pilgrimage centre for the Jain religion among the lush green hills of Aravali. The Dilwara Jain Temple is located at a distance of 2.5km from Mount Abu. Vastupala designed the temple. Vimal Shah built it between the 11th century and the 13th century. The complex is sculpted on white marble in every corner of the temple.

The conquest of Mount Abu in 1311 CE by Rao Lumba of the Deora-Chauhan dynasty. He relocated the capital to the plains of Chandravati. Rao Shasmal established Sirohi as his headquarters in 1405, following the devastation of Chandravati. Later, the king of Sirohi leased it to the British administration for use as their administrative centre. They ruled for over 100 years and frequently moved the capital between Chandravati and Sirohi. The Deora dynasty's Rao Shashmal ruled the area until 1405.[7]

The Arbuda Mountains region is said to be original abode of the famous gurus like Atri and Vashishtha. The association of the Gurus with the mountain is noticed in many inscriptions and epigraphs including Tilakamanjari of Dhanpala.[8] According to one theory, this Gurdhara or land of the gurus got corrupted with time and became Gurjara.[9]

A municipality was established at Abu in 1864; it had six members nominated by the Agent to the Governor General (AGG).[10]

Adishwara temple, Dilwara Temples

Sunset at Mount Abu

Mount Abu town, the only hill station in Rajasthan, is at an elevation of 1,220 m (4,003 ft). It has been a popular retreat from the heat of Rajasthan and neighboring Gujarat for centuries.

The mountain is home to several Hindu temples, including the Adhar Devi Temple (also known as Arbuda Devi Temple), carved out of the solid rock; the Shri Raghunathji Temple; and a shrine and temple to Dattatreya built atop the Guru Shikhar peak; and the Achaleshwar Mahadev Temple (1412).

The Achalgarh Fort, built in the 14th century by Kumbha of Mewar, is nearby and at its center is the popular visitor attraction of the Nakki Lake. The Toad Rock is on a hill near the lake. Close to the fort is the Achaleshwar Mahadev Temple, a popular Shiva temple. Also, Achal Fort Jain Temple, Kantinath Jain Temple (1513) is equally famous.

The Durga Ambika Mata Temple lies in a cleft of rock in Jagat, just outside Mount Abu town.

The mountain is also the home to a number of Jain temples including Dilwara Temples, a complex of temples carved out of white marble. The Dilwara Temples or Delvada Temples are located about 2½ kilometers from the Mount Abu town. These Jain temples were built by Vimal Shah and designed by Vastupala, Jain ministers of Dholka,[11] between the 11th and 16th centuries and are famous for their use of white marble and intricate marble carvings.[12] They are a pilgrimage place of the Jains, and a popular general tourist attraction. The temples have an opulent entranceway, the simplicity in architecture reflecting Jain values like honesty and frugality.[13] Minutely-carved ornamental detail covers the ceilings, doorways, pillars, and panels.[14] The temple complex is in the midst of a range of forested hills. There are five temples in all, each with its own unique identity.[15] All five temples are enclosed within a single high walled compound. The group is named after the small village of Dilwara or Delvara in which they are located. The five temples are:

• Vimal Vasahi, dedicated to the first Jain Tirthankara, Shri Rishabhadev.
• Luna Vasahi, dedicated to the 22nd Jain Tirthankara, Shri Neminatha.
• Pittalhar, dedicated to the first Jain Tirthankar, Shri Rishabhadev.
• Parshvanath, dedicated to the 23rd Jain Tirthankara, Shri Parshvanatha.
• Mahavir Swami, dedicated to the last Jain Tirthankara, Shri Mahaviraswami.

Among all the five legendary marble temples of Dilwara, the most famous of those are the Vimal Vasahi and the Luna Vasahi temples.[16][17]

In Mount Abu, the faith community of Brahma Kumaris has its spiritual headquarters, which are represented by its own account in 110 countries.[18] Every year about 2.5 million visitors are supposed to visit the sprawling campus of that spiritual movement.[18] The Brahma Kumaris ashram has a museum that displays the knowledge that Lord Shiva gave to the Prajapita Brahma. The 50-acre land also provides ample space for meditation and spiritual learning as well as to connect yourself to the stunning, undisturbed natural surroundings.

The Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1960 and covers 290 km² of the mountain. The sanctuary encircles the town, and sloth bears from the sanctuary have habitually been seen inside the city throughout the year foraging on hotel waste in open rubbish bins.[19]

Arbuda Mountains is a mountain range described in the epic Mahabharata. It is identified to be Mount Abu. This mountain is mentioned in the travels of Arjuna during his twelve-year pilgrimage.[20]

Letitia Elizabeth Landon's poem Hindoo Temples on the Mountain-Lake of Aboo, published in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1839, is a reflection on this mountain fastness.[21]

Wikisource has original text related to this article:

'Hindoo Temples on the Mountain-Lake of Aboo', a poem by L. E. L.

The average annual precipitation of Mount Abu is 1554 mm.[22]

• Winter Festival at Mount Abu

According to the 2011 Census of India, Mount Abu has a population of 22,943. out of which 54.7% are males and 45.3% are females. It has an average literacy rate of 81.15%, higher than the national average of 74.04%: male literacy is 90.12%, and female literacy is 70.23%. In Mount Abu, 12.34% of the population is under 6 years of age.[26]

89.31% of people are Hindu, 7.69% are Muslim while 1.45% are Christian.[26]

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  Parshvanatha Temple at Dilwara group of temples
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  Marble sculpture of Dilwara Temples
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  Kalpavriksha or Kalpavruksha page in Dilwada Jain Temple
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  Nakki Lake after sunset
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  Brahma Kumari foundation headquarters at Mount Abu
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  Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary covers 290 km² of mountains, forests and lake.
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  Turtle-shaped rock near Nakki Lake.
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  Toad rock on a hill near Nakki Lake.

• Sacred mountains of India

• Adams, W. J. (1864), Bradshaw's hand-book to the Bombay presidency and North-western provinces of India, Oxford University
• Balfour, Edward (1885), The Cyclopædia of India and of Eastern and Southern Asia, vol. 1, B. Quartitc
• Coolidge, Archibald Cary (1880), The Rajputana Gazetteer, vol. 3, Government Central Branch Press.
• Jain, Arun Kumar (2009), Faith & Philosophy of Jainism, Gyan Publishing House, ISBN 9788178357232
• Kumar, Sehdev (2001), A Thousand Petalled Lotus: Jain Temples of Rajasthan : Architecture & Iconography, Abhinav Publications, ISBN 9788170173489
• Shah, Umakant Premanand (1995), Studies in Jaina Art and Iconography and Allied Subjects, Abhinav Publications, ISBN 9788170173168
• White, David Gordon (1996), The Alchemical Body: Siddha Traditions in Medieval India, University of Chicago Press, ISBN 9780226894973

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mount Abu.

Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article "Abu".

• Shri Achaleshwar Mahadev Mandir
• Mount Abu Coordinates
• Mount Abu Population
• Abu Winter Festival
• Mount Abu Rajasthan
• Mount Abu Panorama
• "Abu" . Collier's New Encyclopedia. 1921.