https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Mahendragiri_%28Odisha%29Mahendragiri (Odisha) - Revision history2026-08-19T06:28:02ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mahendragiri_(Odisha)&diff=231637&oldid=prev->Creapuscularr: restructured for clarity2021-10-28T13:57:39Z<p>restructured for clarity</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{for|peak in [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]|Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}<br />
{{cleanup|date=June 2017|reason=see Talk}}<br />
{{Infobox mountain<br />
| name = Mahendragiri<br />
| elevation_m = 1501<br />
| elevation_ref = <br />
| map = India#Orissa<br />
| map_caption = Location of Mahendragiri, Odisha<br />
| map_size = 300<br />
| label_position = right<br />
| location = [[Rayagada]], [[Gajapati district|Gajapati]], [[Odisha, India]]<br />
| range = [[Eastern Ghats]]<br />
| coordinates = {{coord|18|58|28|N|84|22|05|E|type:mountain_region:IN_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}<br />
| range_coordinates = <br />
| coordinates_ref = <br />
| easiest_route = Motorable Road<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Mahendragiri''', is a mountain in Rayagada subdivision of the [[Gajapati district|district of Gajapati]], [[Odisha, India]].<ref>{{harvnb|Mahendragiri: the pride of Eastern Ghats|1993|p=1|Ref=ma}}</ref> It is situated amongst the [[Eastern Ghats]] at an elevation of {{convert|1501|m|ft|0}}.<br />
<br />
==Geography==<br />
This is the second highest mountain peak of Odisha after [[Deomali (mountain)|Deomali]] in [[Koraput district]]. It has interesting archaeological remains.<ref>{{harvnb|Mahendragiri: the pride of Eastern Ghats|1993|p=101|Ref=ma}}</ref><br />
<br />
Mahendragiri hill and its surrounding areas are recognized as a biodiversity hot spot due to numerous medicinal plants and other species that are found here. A haven for medicinal plants, Mahendragiri Hills, which is part of the Eastern Ghats, is home to over 600 flowering plants. The faunal diversity of the region is huge and particularly known for being a herpetofaunal hotspot.<ref name="newindianexpress">http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/Government-Sits-on-Mahendragiri-Sanctuary-Plan/2015/04/06/article2750136.ece</ref><br />
<br />
The Ministry of Environment and Forests, GoI had proposed the State Government of Odisha in 1986 to declare the Mahendragiri hill as a Biodiversity Hotspot area. An expert committee of the Forest and Environment Department has also recommended that the bio-diversity hotspot Mahendragiri Hills should be declared as a Biosphere Reserve in 2014.<ref name="newindianexpress" /><br />
<br />
The Mahendragiri Biosphere Reserve Committee, which was constituted in November, 2011, held its last meeting in December last after which it submitted its final report recommending that a Biosphere Reserve in Mahendragiri Hill Complex should be created.<br />
<br />
As per the survey carried out by Odisha Space Application Centre, the core area could be spread over 42.54&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> while the buffer zone will have an area of 1577.02&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>. The transitional area is estimated at 3095.76&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>. The entire biosphere reserve, proposed at 4715.32&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> area.<ref name="newindianexpress" /><br />
<br />
==History ==<br />
Mahendragiri is associated with the Ramayana as Mahendra ''Parvata'' (mountain). It is a 'Kula Parvata' along with ''Malaya'', ''Sahyadri'', ''Parijatra'', ''Shuktiman'', ''Vindhya'' and ''Malyavaan''.<ref>{{harvnb|Mahendragiri: the pride of Eastern Ghats|1993|p=75|Ref=ma}}</ref> In the ''[[Purana]]s'' and [[Ramayana]] It is said that [[Parashurama]] was mediating on Mahendragiri when Lord [[Rama]] broke the sacred bow of [[Shiva]].<ref>{{harvnb|Mahendragiri: the pride of Eastern Ghats|1993|p=77|Ref=ma}}</ref><br />
<br />
Mahendragiri is situated in [[Gajapati district|Gajapati]] district, [[Odisha]]. Legend says that it is the place where Lord [[Parashurama]], a ''chiranjeevi'' stays eternally and performs tapasya. Parashurama is the sixth avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism and he is one of the Chiranjeevis (long - lived), who will appear at the end of the Kali yuga to be the guru of Vishnu's tenth and last avatar, Kalki. He carried a number of traits, which included aggression, warfare and valor; also, serenity, prudence and patience. He retired in the Mahendra Mountains, according to chapter 2.3.47 of the Bhagavata Purana.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Donaldson|first=Thomas E|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fETebHcHKogC|title=Studies in Jaina Art and Iconography and Allied Subjects Umakant Premanand Shah (ed.)|date=1995|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=978-81-7017-316-8|pages=174–175|language=en}}</ref> He is the only Vishnu avatar who never dies, never returns to abstract Vishnu and lives in meditative retirement. Further, he is the only Vishnu avatar that co-exists with other Vishnu avatars Rama and Krishna in some versions of the Ramayana and Mahabharata respectively.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Lochtefeld|first=James G.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g6FsB3psOTIC|title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z|date=2002|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-8239-3180-4|pages=500–501|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Thomas|first=Lynn|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QrLKAgAAQBAJ|title=Myth and Mythmaking: Continuous Evolution in Indian Tradition Julia Leslie (ed.)|date=2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-136-77881-0|pages=64–66|language=en}}</ref> Temples, which are said to be built by the [[Pandavas]] are present. The main festival observed here is [[Shivaratri]].<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
* {{cite book<br />
|title=Mahendragiri: the pride of Eastern Ghats<br />
|publisher=Orissa Environmental Society<br />
|year=1993<br />
|ref=ma}}<br />
<br />
{{Eastern Ghats |state=collapsed}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Eastern Ghats]]<br />
[[Category:Mountains of Odisha]]<br />
[[Category:Ancient Indian mountains]]<br />
[[Category:Mahabharata]]</div>->Creapuscularr