WHAT I HAVE SAID IN THIS POST PERTAINS ONLY TO THE OLDER MAPS OF SOI
Having served in the Geological Survey of India (GSI), I am aware of the possibilities when map-makers could commit errors in the naming of some landmarks in areas with which the surveyors may not be very familiar. Survey of India (SOI) like the GSI has officers drawn from all over India, and quite often they may not be aware of the local legends and the local language. So quite often, there is a very real possibility that errors may be made while naming some landmarks.
Take the instance of the peak Kumara Parvata that lies in toposheet 48P/10. The name Kumara Parvata is a very ancient one and as I have said elsewhere in my blog, it figures even in the Skandha Puranas. There is a very ancient temple at the top of the peak, and in the rocky basement behind the temple you see very antique script carved out on the rocky basement and the purported impressions of the feet of Lord Subramanya.
The local legend which has come down through the ages has it that Lord Subramanya – the son of Shiva and Parvati slew the demon king Tarakaasura on this peak. At the precise point of time when Subramanya slew the demon king, the Devas from the heaven rained down a torrent of flowers on the peak and hence it is also called Pushpagiri (pushpa=flower; giri-peak). Ever since on Pushpagiri some variety of flower or the other blooms throughout the year.
In the present times the people of Coorg refer to the peak as Pushpagiri, whereas the people of South Kanara call it Kumara Parvata. Actually it is the same peak.
The Survey of India seems to have made a minor error owing to a minor lack of understanding of these aspects. It appears that they have named a smaller peak enroute from Subramanya – Girigadde - Pushpagiri as Kumara Parvata. This peak is actually known as Sesha Parvata since past times, as it resembles the hood of a snake. You find that in the map this peak to have beeen incorrectly named as Kumara Parvata.
It is hoped that this error is rectified in future editions of the map in concordance with local legend, mythology and cultural history and ancient traditions of the people, and Pushpagiri is also shown as Kumara Parvata.
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