The history of Mount Abu is as diverse as the city itself. Earlier Mount
Abu was part of the Chauhan kingdom of Rajasthan and served as a summer resort for the Rajput kings of the region. After that, it was leased by the British government from the
Maharaja of Sirohi to use it as the headquarters. During the British rule in India, it was the favorite summer destination of the British, who came here to escape the dusty, dry heat of the plains. It also served as a sanatorium for the troops.
In
the olden days Mount Abu was the home of various saints and sages.
According to legends, all the gods and goddesses of the Hindu Mythology used to visit this holy mountain. It is also the place where the great saint Vashishth lived and performed a yagna
for the purification of the ancient fighting caste, the Kshatriyas. From
this mystical fire rose the mighty Rajputs who later dominated the history
of Rajasthan.
The
origin of Mount Abu goes back several centuries. Once Nandini, the cow
belonging to the venerable sage Vashishtha, was trapped in a deep gorge
and could not get herself free. When all efforts failed, the sage appealed
to Lord Shiva for assistance. The Lord
Shiva sent Saraswati, the divine stream, to help flood the gorge so that the cow could float up.
Once
his cow was free, Vashishtha approached the great Himalaya and asked him
to fill the gorge permanently to avoid further mishaps. The youngest son
of Himalaya, with the assistance of Arbud, the mighty snake filled the
gorge. The place came to be called Mount Arbud and was later reduced to
its present name - Mount Abu.
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