gandhamAdana?

[N. Ganesan]

<<<
I am puzzled over a reference I've encountered in the Ramayana'a
YuddhakA.n.da (6.37.2, in the critical ed.) to "gandhamAdana."
The only 'literary character' given in Apte's dictionary for this
compound is RAva.na, yet this would not seem to fit the context,
given that the list in this (and the following) verse
evidently refers to the vAnaras who surround RAma to protect his
fallen body. Can anyone shed some light on this reference? Am I
overlooking something obvious?
>>>

Let me quote a famous Tevaram song by St. Appar (7th century CE).
This lists mountains all over India and calls them "Siva's abodes.
In this, gandhamAdana mount tops the list.

It is important to note that Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh is
called as North Parvata (Paruppatam) here. May be in order to
distinguish it with the Malaya mountains which has been called
"Paruppatam" (=Parvata) in other ancient Tamil texts. Malaya being
called as "Paruppatam" (=Parvata) in Tamil texts by authors
well versed in Sanskrit has important ramifications for
identifying the Parvata mountain referred to in Vakyapadiya 2.486.

Regards,
N. Ganesan

-----------------------------------------------

Appar Tevaram 6.71.9

   kanta mAtan2am, kayilai malai, kEtAram, kALatti, kazukkun2Ram,
      kaN Ar aNNA,
   mantam Am pozil cAral vaTaparppatam, makEntira mA malai, nIlam,
      EmakUTam,
   vinta mA malai, vEtam, caiyam, mikka viyan2 potiyil malai, mEru,
      utayam, attam,
   intu cEkaran2 uRaiyum malaikaL maRRum EttuvOm iTar keTa nin2Ru
      EttuvOmE.

Shiva's mountains:
1)  kanta mAtan2am = gandhamAdana
2)  kayilai = Kailash
3)  kEtAram
4)  KALatti = kALahasti
5)  Kazhukkun2Ram = Thirukkazukkunram
6)  aNNA = aNNAmalai which is pleasing to the eyes
7)  vaTa paruppatam = Parvata in the North (Srisailam?)
8)  mahentiram = mahendra, the big mountain
9)  nIlam = the mountain, nIlam (indranIlaparvata?)
10) EmakUTam = hemakUTa
11) vintam = vindhya mounatin
12) vEtam = the mountain called vEda
13) caiyam = Caiyam mountain where Kaveri is born.
14) potiyil =  the mountain, potiyil which is
                extensive and eminent.
15) mEru
16) utayam = the mountain where the sun rises.
17) attam = the mountain where the sun sets;

     we will praise the above-mentioned mountains
     and other mountains where civan2 who has a crescent on his head,
     dwells. we will praise without ceasing so that our sufferings
     may perish. - St. Appar (7th cent. CE)





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