Rucaka (Kesara Mountain)

Rucaka

Rucaka is a mountain on the southern side of Meru, one of the kesara (filament) mountains that stand around Meru like the filaments around the heart of a lotus. The Brahma Purāṇa names it in its account of the bhuvana-kośa, the shape of the world, which the teller gives to the munis when they ask to hear the form of the earth’s sphere.

Among the kesara mountains of Meru

The teller names the kesara mountains of Meru side by side. On the east are Śāntavanta, Cakrakuñja, Kurarī, Mālyavanta and Vaikaṅka. On the south are Trikūṭa, Śiśira, Pataṅga, Rucaka, Nishadha and others. On the west are Śikhivāsa, Vaidūrya, Kapila, Gandhamādana, Jānudhi and others; these touch Meru and stand in its jaṭhara positions. On the north are Śaṅkhakūṭa, Ṛshabha, Haṃsa, Nāga, Kālañjara and others. “The kesara mountains on Meru’s four sides have been told,” he says. “Their beginnings and ends are cool.”

The valleys (droṇis) within these mountains are lovely, frequented by siddhas and cāraṇas, with fine cities and forests and the best temples of Lakshmī, Vishṇu, Agni, Sūrya, Indra and the other devatās. Gandharvas, yakshas, rākshasas, daityas and dānavas play there day and night. These are the bhauma-svargas, the svargas on the earth, the dwelling of those firm in dharma, which those of pāpa cannot reach in any number of births.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 18

Sources

• Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 18