The Piercing of the Krauñca mountain by Skanda and/or Paraśurāma

Vielle, Christophe [UCL]

This article provides a historical study of the legendary motif of the piercing of the Krauñca mountain, which is ascribed to the god Skanda in the epics (Mahābhārata, Rāmāyaṇa, Harivaṃśa) and in the earliest purāṇas (Vāyu-, Skanda-), but in kāvyas and commentarial literature following Kālidāsa is attributed to the hero Paraśurāma, or to both the brahmin-warrior and the warrior-god, respectively disciple and son of Śiva. Their rivalry became a specific motif in the plays of Bhavabhūti, Murāri and Rājaśekhara. The power of the Bhārgava for creating gaps within mountains appears nevertheless attested already in the Mahābhārata and in the later regional purāṇic traditions. [The corrections made on the first proof of this article were not taken into account by the editors. A list of corrigenda is therefore here joined, as well as a postprint corrected version including an short addendum at the end]