Rajasthan CM Announces Renaming of Mount Abu to “Abu Raj”

Chief Minister of Rajasthan Bhajan Lal Sharma has announced the renaming of Mount Abu to “Abu Raj”. The move comes amid growing demands to preserve the religious and cultural character of the state’s only hill station, located in western Rajasthan.

Historical Reference

The British military officer James Tod famously referred to Mount Abu as the “Olympus of Rajasthan” in his book Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, highlighting its historical and cultural significance.

Origins in Ancient Texts

According to the state government, the region’s history can be traced back to the Puranic period, when it was known as “Arbudaranya”, meaning “the forest of Arbhuda.”
In the Puranas, the place is described as a retreat for Sage Vashistha after his disagreement with Sage Vishwamitra.

A popular mythological story associated with the region mentions a serpent named Arbhuda, who is believed to have saved the life of Nandi, the mount of Shiva. The present name “Mount Abu” is considered a shortened form derived from the name Arbhuda.

Religious and Cultural Significance

Mount Abu is home to several important temples and religious sites:

• Guru Shikhar, the highest peak of the Aravalli Range, houses the Guru Dattatreya Temple, dedicated to Dattatreya, believed to be an incarnation of the divine trinity—Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The temple is believed to have been constructed in the 14th century.
• The Dilwara Jain Temples, built between the 11th and 13th centuries, are among the finest examples of Jain temple architecture in the world, renowned for their intricate marble carvings.

Source: IE