The Geography of the Puranas c7.s5.97

c7.s5.97

However, on a close scrutiny of the Purāṇic regional descriptions one comes to the conclusion that by the Gandhamādana the Purāṇics meant the northern ridge of the great Hindūkush arch with its northern extension, the Khwāja Mohammad range. The Hindūkush, as we know, consists of two parallel ranges which come closer to each other at the apex of the arch, south of the Pāmirs (Meru). These ridges are well-defined in Afghanistan, less so in Kashmir and reappear again as such on the east. The Purāṇics called the northern ridge Gandhamādana and the southern, which is higher and more consistent, Niṣadha, which merged into the Northern Karakoram and Kunlun on the east. The Purāṇic statements that the Gandhamādana is the south, east or west are reconciled if we keep in mind the correct alignment of the northern range of Hindūkush. This range touches the Pāmirs in the south and falls away from it towards southwest and southeast. On the other hand the position of Mālyavān (or Sarikol range) to the east of Meru (Pāmir) is confirmed by statements given in other chapters of the Purāṇas.¹⁰ Variations in its position ((opposite the Gandhamādana) are due to the variations in the position of the Gandhamādana which was not properly interpreted or visualised by subsequent writers.