Mountain of the Mahabharata
Mahendra Parvata
महेन्द्र पर्वत
Abode of Parashurama; site of Karna's training and curse
Mahendra Parvata (Mahendragiri, Gajapati district, Odisha): Abode of Parashurama; site of Karna's training and curse, located at coordinates 18.97°N, 84.39°E.
Key Facts
| Type | Mountain |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit name | महेन्द्र पर्वत |
| Coordinates | 18.97°N, 84.39°E |
| Modern location | Mahendragiri, Gajapati district, Odisha |
| Significance | Abode of Parashurama; site of Karna's training and curse |
About Mahendra Parvata
The mountain abode of the immortal Parashurama on the eastern coast. Karna went there disguised as a brahmin to learn the Brahmastra, earning both the weapon and his guru's curse; the Pandavas later met Parashurama there on their pilgrimage (Vana Parva).
Why it matters: Abode of Parashurama; site of Karna's training and curse
Details
- Curse
- Parashurama cursed Karna to forget the Brahmastra at his fated hour
On the Map
Mahendra Parvata sits at 18.97°N, 84.39°E, in Mahendragiri, Gajapati district, Odisha.
View on the full mapEvents at Mahendra Parvata
- Parashurama Curses KarnaYear -35Karna, denied training by Drona, goes to Parashurama disguised as a brahmin. When Parashurama discovers his true identity as a warrior, he curses Karna that his celestial knowledge will fail him when he needs it most.
Stories Set at Mahendra Parvata
A Royal Childhood at Hastinapura
Pandavas, Kauravas, and the Lessons of Drona
Drona and Drupada
The Broken Friendship
The Teacher Who Came Too Late
Flour stirred in water, and a mountain walked to
Kalinga, the Coast of Warriors
Elephants between the hills and the sea
The Age After the Axe
How the warrior caste came back, and how it was spoiled again
Twenty-Three Days on the Saraswati
Bhishma fights his own preceptor and neither man can win
Rudra's Share and the Sinking Earth
Two quarrels over what may be given away, on the Kalinga shore
The Two Pots of Rice
A mother and daughter exchange their bowls and exchange their sons
The Names That Cleanse Sin
Asked what destroys sin, Bhishma answers with a litany of gods, rivers, mountains, sages and kings
The Bow at the Frontier
Parashurama Tests Rama of Ayodhya and Loses His Energy