MANDARAPARVATA (MANDARĀCALA) A mountain of Purāṇic fame. The following information is gathered from Mahābhārata regarding this mountain:
(1) This mountain rises up to ten thousand yojanas and also goes down to ten thousand yojanas.
[Chapter 18, Śloka 17, Ādi Parva] .
(2) During the time of the churning of Kṣīrābdhi (ocean of Milk) the serpent Ananta brought this mountain as per instructions from Mahāviṣṇu.
[Sloka 6, Chapter 18, Ādi Parva] .
(3) It was this mountain that was used as the Mantha (churning stick) when the milk-ocean was churned.
[Śloka 13, Chapter 18, Ādi Parva] .
(4) During the time of churning the Milk-Ocean many inhabitants of Pātāla and animals in the ocean were killed because of the rubbing of this mountain.
[Śloka 26, Chapter 18, Ādi Parva] .
(5) This mountain resides in the court of Kubera as Devātmā.
[Śloka 81, Chapter 10, Sabhā Parva] .
(6) This mountain is situated near Kailāsa. Eightyeight thousand Gandharvas and four times as much of Yakṣakinnaras reside on the top of this mountain. along with Kubera and a yakṣa named Maṇivara.
[Śloka 5, Chapter 139, Vana Parva] .
(7) Once in a dream Arjuna conducted a trip to Kailāsa accompanied by Śrī Kṛṣṇa and on his way he halted at this mountain. The mountain then shone with the presence of nymphs and heavenly songsters.
[Śloka 33, Chapter 80, Droṇa Parva] .
(8) In destroying the notorious demon trio called Tripuras, Śiva used this mountain as a bow.
[Śloka 76, Chapter 202, Droṇa Parva] .
(9) Once when the Sage Aṣṭāvakra was conducting a tour of the northern parts he stayed on this mountain for some time.
[Śloka 54, Chapter 19, Anuśāsana Parva] .