Know About Mahendra Parvat of Ramayana

This article is an extremely insightful analysis of the geographical references in the Ramayana to locate Mt. Mahendra, the take-off point for Hanuman's leap to Lanka. Here are the key points and conclusions:

Analysis of Sugreeva's Directions


Vindhya Range and Narmada River: Sugreeva starts by describing the central regions of India, the Vindhya mountains and the Narmada River, which establishes a starting reference for the southern search of the Vanara party.

Regions of Central and Eastern India: He mentions regions like Mekhala, Utkala, Vidarbha, and Kalinga of present-day Odisha, located south of the Vindhyas. All these, however, are parts of the great southern quest, not in any direct connection with Mt. Mahendra.

Kerala and Pandya Kingdoms: The account flows southward from Sugreeva, which, in fact, refers to:

Western Ghats, home to iron ore mines, and sandalwood groves.
Agasthyamalai is the mountain range attributed to the sage Agastya, located near modern Tamil Nadu.
The Tamraparni River, originating from Agasthyamalai, flows into the southernmost regions of India.
Mt. Mahendra: Located south of Agasthyamalai, near the Pandya Kingdom, south of the Indian mainland tip. This places it near the sea, where Hanuman is believed to have leaped.
Orissa's Mahendragiri vs. Tamil Nadu's Mahendragiri

Orissa's Mahendragiri:

In eastern India, miles away from the southernmost descriptions of India in the Ramayana.
The aerial distance between Orissa and Sri Lanka measures exactly 100 Yojanas (~800 miles) but doesn't fit the geography described by Sugreeva.

Mahendragiri of Tamil Nadu:

Located south of Agasthyamalai and Tamraparni, it perfectly fits the southernmost descriptions in the Ramayana.
It fits the directional flow of Sugreeva's instructions and is directly opposite Lanka across the ocean.

Importance of Identifying Mt. Mahendra

The identification of the correct Mt. Mahendra would help identify Lanka's location across the ocean.
Mahendragiri of Tamil Nadu would serve the logical leap, thereby proving again that Lanka is placed just to the south of the Indian mainland.

Conclusion

Evidence that Tamil Nadu's Mahendragiri is indeed Mt. Mahendra, where Sugreeva narrated his minute details of Rama, is seen strongly in the Ramayana. The geographical, cultural, and historical clues all align with this conclusion to establish its place in Hanuman's leap to Lanka. It is one step towards unearthing the historical geography of Ravana's Lanka.