Krauñca Parvata (Krauñca Mountain) is the holy mountain where Kārttikeya made his permanent home after he left Kailāsa in vairāgya (detachment). In the Kumāra Khaṇḍa of the Śiva Purāṇa, the Mallikārjuna jyotirliṅga appeared here. It is the lasting presence of Bhagavān Śiva on the mountain, born of a father’s love for his son. A pilgrimage to Krauñca Mountain in the month of Kārttika is declared to bring very great merit.

Krauñca is also the name of one of the seven dvīpas (continents) in the cosmography. The Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa tells of a mountain pierced by Kārttikeya.

Krauñca Mountain in the Kumāra Khaṇḍa

Refuge sought

Before Kārttikeya made his home there, Krauñcāsura came to him for refuge. Krauñcāsura was the mountain itself in the form of an asura. Bāṇāsura was tormenting him. Kārttikeya killed Bāṇāsura and gave Krauñca his protection. (Śiva Purāṇa, Rudra Saṃhitā, Kumāra Khaṇḍa, Chapter 10)

Kārttikeya’s withdrawal

After the marriage of Gaṇeśa, Kārttikeya felt he had been wronged by his parents’ favour toward his brother. He left Kailāsa in vairāgya and went to Krauñca Mountain. He made it his permanent home. (Śiva Purāṇa, Rudra Saṃhitā, Kumāra Khaṇḍa, Chapter 20)

The mountain as a holy home

Krauñca Mountain became Kārttikeya’s everlasting place on the earth. Bhagavān Śiva visits on every Amāvāsyā (new moon day). Devī Pārvatī visits on every Pūrṇimā (full moon day). Each time they came, Kārttikeya moved three yojanas further away, but stayed on the mountain. Bhagavān Śiva appeared there as the Mallikārjuna jyotirliṅga. This makes Krauñca Mountain a mahā-kshetra (great holy land) of Kārttikeya and Bhagavān Śiva together. (Śiva Purāṇa, Rudra Saṃhitā, Kumāra Khaṇḍa, Chapter 20)

Pilgrimage in Kārttika

The Kumāra Khaṇḍa declares that a pilgrimage to Krauñca Mountain in the month of Kārttika brings very great merit. The one who makes this pilgrimage with devotion is freed from all pāpa (sin) and gains the puṇya (merit) of all tīrthas. (Śiva Purāṇa, Rudra Saṃhitā, Kumāra Khaṇḍa, Chapter 20)

The piercing of Krauñca in the Vāmana Purāṇa

The Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 32, tells a different episode of Krauñca Mountain. After Tārakāsura was defeated, Mahishāsura fled to Krauñca Mountain and hid inside it. Kārttikeya would not kill Mahishāsura himself, because Mahishāsura was his mātuleya-bhrātā. So he took part in a contest with Indra to go round the mountain. Indra won by deceit. Kārttikeya was angry. He hurled his śakti (spear) at Krauñca. It pierced the mountain through and killed Mahishāsura, who was hiding inside. (Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 32)

Krauñca Dvīpa

In the cosmography of seven dvīpas, Krauñca is also the name of one of seven rings of land. These are Jambū, Plaksha, Śālmali, Kuśa, Krauñca, Śāka and Pushkara. Seven oceans lie between them. The Brahmāṇḍa Mahā Purāṇa (Madhyama Bhāga) and the Narasiṃha Purāṇa say that Krauñca Dvīpa is the fifth continent, and the ocean of ghee surrounds it. Krauñca Dvīpa is a different place from Krauñca Parvata, the mountain itself.

Sources

Śiva Purāṇa, Rudra Saṃhitā, Kumāra Khaṇḍa, Chapters 10 and 20
Vāmana Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 32
Brahmāṇḍa Mahā Purāṇa, Madhyama Bhāga
Narasiṃha Purāṇa