Mountain of the Mahabharata
Gandhamadana
गन्धमादन
Arjuna's penance site
Gandhamadana: Arjuna's penance site, located at coordinates 30.50°N, 79.50°E.
Key Facts
| Type | Mountain |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit name | गन्धमादन |
| Coordinates | 30.50°N, 79.50°E |
| Significance | Arjuna's penance site |
About Gandhamadana
A mountain in the Himalayas. Arjuna performed penance here to obtain divine weapons.
Why it matters: Arjuna's penance site
Details
- Shiva
- Arjuna fought with Shiva here
- Weapons
- Received Pashupatastra and other weapons
- Duration
- Long penance in the snow
On the Map
Gandhamadana
Gandhamadana sits at 30.50°N, 79.50°E.
View on the full mapEvents at Gandhamadana
- Arjuna's PenanceYear -25Arjuna performs severe penance in the Himalayas to obtain divine weapons from Shiva and other gods.
- Arjuna Fights Shiva as the HunterYear -25Arjuna, deep in penance to obtain divine weapons, encounters a Kirata (hunter) who is actually Shiva in disguise. After a fierce battle, Shiva reveals himself and bestows the Pashupata astra.
- Bhima Kills the Disguised Demon JatasuraYear -22The rakshasa Jatasura disguises himself as a brahmin to infiltrate the Pandava camp. When he abducts Draupadi and some Pandavas, Bhima kills him in battle.
- Bhima Trapped by Nahusha the PythonYear -22While searching for food in the mountains, Bhima is captured by a massive python who is actually King Nahusha cursed to live as a serpent. Only Yudhishthira's wisdom frees him.
- Hanuman Meets BhimaYear -21Bhima encounters his divine brother Hanuman in the forest. Hanuman tests Bhima's humility before blessing him.
- The Saugandhika FlowerYear -21A wind-blown golden lotus enchants Draupadi on Gandhamadana, and Bhima storms off to find more, wrecking Kubera's lotus-lake guard before the yakshas yield the flowers.
- The Python's QuestionsYear -7On Mount Gandhamadana, the mighty Bhima is seized by a giant python he cannot break free of - the cursed king Nahusha, who once ruled heaven itself and fell through pride into a serpent's body. The python will free its captive only if its riddles of dharma are answered, and so it falls to Yudhishthira's wisdom, not Bhima's strength, to save his brother and release a fallen king from an age-long curse.