Himavat
Himavat (himavant-) is a personification of the Himalayan mountains, which are also known as the Himavat Mountains. He was the ruler of the Himalaya Kingdom of Ancient India, which finds mention in the epic Mahabharata. Himavat fathered Ganga, the river goddess, and Parvati, the wife of Shiva. His wife and queen consort is vedic Minavati the daughter of Mount Meru. [1]
The sacred text of Devi Gita, which is found in the last nine chapters (31-40) of the seventh skandha of Devi Bhagawatam, is a dialogue between Parvati and her father Himavat. It deals with the universal form of the Devi, meditations on the major texts of Upanishads, ashtanga-yoga, the yogas of jnana, karma and bhakti, locations of the temples dedicated to the Devi and the rituals pertaining to her worship.
His story also find mention in Brahmanda Purana and Kena Upanishad. [2]
Etymology
Sanskrit himavant- translates to "having much snow". Sanskrit himá "frost, snow" is cognate to Latin hiems "winter" from PIE ghyem-.
References
- ^ Wilkins, p. 287
- ^ Kena Upanisad, III.11-IV.3, cited in Müller and in Sarma, pp. xxix-xxx.
- W. J. Wilkins (2003). Hindu Gods and Goddesses. Courier Dover Publications. ISBN 0486431568.
- Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dallapiccola.
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