the Himalayas. He undertook several pilgrim-
ages and often visited the holy city of BENARES,
(Varanasi), where he found others, such as Dr.
Raimon Panikkar, engaged in Hindu-Christian
dialogue. In 1968, he left Shantivanam under the
leadership of Father Bede Griffiths (1968–93)
and went to live in a hermitage in Uttarkashi in
the Himalayas. In 1980, Shantivanam, under the
leadership of Father Bede, was received in the
Camaldolese Congregation of the Benedictine
Confederation.
In 1969 Abhishiktananda participated in the
All-India Seminar on the Church in India Today
in Bangalore, the aim of which was to adapt the
principles of Vatican II to the Indian context.
There he was recognized as a pioneer in the field
of Hindu-Christian dialogue, whose life and
work inspired several religious communities,
such as Jyotiniketan Ashram formed in 1969 at
Bareilly.
Abhishiktananda’s books and teaching are
largely addressed to Christians, with the aim of
helping them discover the spirit and principles
of ADVAITA (non-dual) Hinduism. While always
remaining a Christian, he discerned elements of
Christianity in the spiritual wisdom of India that
helped him toward resolving for himself the ten-
sions between the two religions and finding an
inner integration. His goal was to move beyond
the limits of institutional religions and churches
to encourage spiritual renewal, which he consid-
ered essential for human survival in the modern
world.
On July 14, 1973, Abhishiktananda suffered
a heart attack on the road in Rishikesh, where
he was on retreat with another French religious.
He died December 7, 1973, at Indore, Madhya
Pradesh.
See also CHRISTIAN-HINDU RELATIONS.
Further reading: Abhishiktananda, Saccidananda:
A Christian Approach to Advaitic Experience (Delhi:
I.S.P.C.K., 1974); ———, The Further Shore (Delhi:
I.S.P.C.K., 1975); ———, The Secret of Arunchala
(Delhi: I.S.P.C.K., 1979); ———, Guru and Disciple: An
Encounter with Sri Gnanananda (Delhi: I.S.P.C.K., 1990);
———, Swami Abhishiktananda: Ascent to the Depth of
the Heart: The Spiritual Diary (1948–1973). Edited
and selected by Raimon Panikkar, translated by David
Fleming and James Stuart (Delhi: I.S.P.C.K., 1998); H.
Ralston, Christian Ashrams: A New Religious Movement
in Contemporary India (Lewiston, N.Y.: Edwin Mellen
Press, 1987); James Stuart, Swami Abhishiktananda: His
Life Told through His Letters, rev. ed. (Delhi: I.S.P.C.K.,
1995).Abu, Mount
Mount Abu is a small peak (some 4,000 feet
high) in the southwest of the Indian state of
Rajasthan that figures in Hindu legend. It is
especially holy to Jains (see JAINISM), who built
beautifully adorned temples there. It was once a
British hill station for retreat from the summer
heat.
According to one legend, the sage Vasishtha’s
cow Nandini was once trapped in a deep gorge
and could not free herself. The sage appealed to
Lord SHIVA for assistance. The Lord sent SARASVATI,
the divine stream, to help flood the gorge so that
the cow could float up. Vasishtha then decided
to ensure that such mishaps would not occur in
future. He asked the youngest son of HIMALAYA,
the king of mountains, to fill the chasm perma-
nently. This he did with the assistance of Arbud,
the mighty snake. This spot came to be known as
Mount Arbud, and the name was later changed to
its present form—Mount Abu.
It is said that this mountain was visited and
blessed in the sixth century B.C.E. by MAHAVIRA,
the 24th and last Jain TIRTHANKARA of this half
of the cosmic era. It is known for its marble Jain
temples, two of which are famous. The first, built
in the 11th century, is devoted to RISHABHA, the
first Tirthankara of the line leading to Mahavira,
The other, from the 13th century, is dedicated
to Neminatha, the 22nd Tirthankara in the line.
The temples are not large but are known for theirK 4 Abu, Mount