Trikuta

Trikuta, from the Sanskrit tri- meaning three and kuta meaning peak or hill, is a term used for a mountain or hill that has three distinct summits. In Hindu tradition, three-peaked mountains are repeatedly referenced as sacred abodes of deities and as symbols of sacred unity, reflecting the importance of triadic concepts in sacred geography.

Geographically, the name Trikuta is attached to several three-peaked hills in the Indian subcontinent. The best known is the Trikuta Mountains near Katra in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which house the Vaishno Devi temple. Pilgrims visit a cave shrine dedicated to the goddess Vaishnavi, believed to be an incarnation of Shakti, located on the Trikuta range. The three peaks are described in devotional contexts as representing divine energy and presence.

In addition to the Jammu and Kashmir range, the term Trikuta is used for other three-peaked hills, such as Trikut Hill in Jharkhand, which hosts temples and is a site of pilgrimage and tourism. The concept also appears in literature and in temple naming, where Trikuta denotes tri-peaked sacred geography and is sometimes invoked to highlight three-fold aspects of sacred space or deities.

Overall, Trikuta functions as both a toponym and a religious symbol, illustrating how three-fold peaks are woven into South Asian sacred geography and cultural heritage.