Historical Geography of Ancient India c10.8

c10.8

*Amarakaṇṭaka.*—This hill is a part of the Mekhala hills in Gondwana in the territory of Nagpur in which the rivers Narmada and Son take their rise. Hence the Narmada is called the *Mekhalasutā* (*Padma Purāṇa*, Ch. VI). According to some, it is in the Rewah State on the easternmost extremity of the Maikal range, 25 miles by country road from Sahdol railway station, 3,000 ft. above sea-level. It is one of the sacred places of the Hindus (For details, vide B. C. Law, *Holy Places of India*, p. 34). The Amarakaṇṭaka is the Āmrakūṭa of Kālidāsa's *Meghadūta* (1, 17). It is also known as the Somaparvata and the Surathādri (*Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa*, Ch. 57). According to the *Matsyap.* this sacred hill was superior to Kurukṣetra (22. 28; 186. 12–34; 188. 79, 82; 191. 25). The *Padma Purāṇa* (Ch. 133, v. 21) mentions a holy place named Caṇḍikātīrtha at Amarakaṇṭaka.