(meaning "abode
of snow") Although only Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar
Pradesh, and, further east, Sikkhim have important Himalayan areas, the
Himalayan range arcs over India's northern border.
The Himalayan areas in the first three states are the most
important in a Hindu religious context; the mountains in these three contiguous
states are all part of a larger Himalayan cultural region, which is fronted by
the Shiwalik Hills.
They are revered as both the physical residence of Hindu
gods (especially Shiva, who is said to reside atop Mount Kailas) and the source
of holy rivers including the Ganges, Yamuna, and Indus.
The physical sufferings that these ascetics must experience
in the mountains are also thought to develop spiritual force; the physical
hardships that these ascetics must endure in the mountains are also believed to
generate spiritual power.
The Himalayas are densely packed with sacred sites
(tirthas), the most important of which are Amarnath, Yamunotri, Gangotri,
Kedarnath, Badrinath, and Nanda Devi.
You may also want to read more about Hinduism here.
Be sure to check out my writings on religion here.
