Pavagadh's Fame

An ode to Pavagadh mountain, its myths, and its human and geological history.

Hill of Fire,

Hill of Winds,

Four-faced Hill,

Flower-stone Hill,

By seven streams girdled;

Ancient red stone,

Rhyolite and porphyry,

Basalt and dolerite,

Mugerite and latite,

Phonolite, tholelite,

Trachylite and sandstone,

Flow upon flow;

Resort of sages,

Tirthankars’ refuge,

Rajputs’ hillfort,

Mahmud Shah’s second seat;

Hanuman’s burden,

Mataji's pedestal,

Saints’ resting-place,

Ringed by masjids.

When I am old and out of breath,

In the grip of death,

I shall still find ways

To sing Pavagadh’s praise.