A Mountain Travels Far From Home
Famous for her medical plant, sanjeevani, Dunagiri holds well-celebrated worth in the world of Indian Epics.
The son of the Wind-God and good friend to Rama.
These minor characters are all from the Ramayana, which is where the story of Dunagiri's removal from the ground and onto Hanuman's shoulder takes place.
Rama
Lakshman
Sita
Ravana
Dunagiri sighs heavily in her cluster between the sister peaks of Nanda and Sunanda. She is an invisible mountain resting on a visible mountain; she is a daughter of Nanda Devi, the princess who merged with the Nanda mountain to escape an undesirable marriage. Dhanvantari, the God of Medicine, settled Dunagiri between the twin peaks of Devi for safekeeping. Dunagiri carries a valuable herb, the sanjeevani, which was a gift from the God for her piety as a woman. When Dunagiri died, she became the mount which carried sanjeevani for Dhanvantari. It is she that he returns to when in need of medicinal help. Others search for her gifts as well, which led to Dhanvantari hiding her away. Dunagiri loathes her new place between the Devi peaks, who gossip at every hour of the day and night. Thousands of years have passed and she has yet to encounter much as a mountain.
The trails of the Ramayana changed her bleak and solitary look.
After battle with Ravana's army, the shrieking Rashaksas had wounded many of the soldiers who fought at Rama's will. The monkeys and bears who had toiled in the name of Sita's return were strewn about the gruesome scene. Rama's own brother lay in the Avatar of Vishnu's lap, spilling red upon the blue hands which tended to his wounds. It was a fickle day, beginning with numerous armies who fought for Rama's favor and yet ended with the young prince fearing only worse lay ahead for his troops and for Lakshman. The son of the Wind God perched near Rama's shoulder, listening to the prince bite at worries and plan for the funeral dirge. Hanuman knew there lay, in rumors, a mountain that grows medicinal herbs of which can heal a man with a single drop. The famous sanjeevani was hard to find, and that was if one managed to find the mountain upon which it grows.
Usually drapped down Dunagiri's jagged face is a white casting of silk, but it is spring so her veil has melted and flooded the range with joyous green things. Her eyes are stuck in the middle of a blink, lids hanging sleepily over her cavernous eyes. Deep in her roots, underneath rotting soil and precious gems, is the memory of her life as a woman. That mortal body, much like Nanda Devi, has turned into the rock of the Devi's range. Dunagiri has stood, sat, slept, wept, and laughed in the same spot for thousands of years - ever since Dhanvantari had placed her between the twin peaks of Nanda and Sunanda. She feels herself is part of the Earth now, in a bond unbreakable and yet fragile as the Gods fight amongst themselves.
She did not know how the fight would come to her, or if it would come at all. Dunagiri knew that the humans had heard the rumors of her powers, of the gifts from the of Medicine himself. From what she heard of the battles, they seemed unlikely to win without divine aid. Nevertheless, she was a mountain and she remained where she was - until the war came to the snow-capped thrush of Nanda and Sunanda.
It was a peaceful morning. Steam rises from between the oaks, the pines whispering secrets and sightings of Hanuman racing across the ocean. Dunagiri adored the gossiping trees and how the wind carried their hushed words from one branch to the next. But this morning, underneath the peaceful song of birds, was a lurking fear of the war which approached with the bounding of Hanuman towards the mountain’s range. When the Wind-God’s son arrived, Nanda Devi greeted him with the flowing rivers and bursting fruit from the trees in the valley. He did not stay within her range for long, stepping into the one hidden from mortal view. Instead, Hanuman rushed into the secret valley of Dunagiri.
“Friend, I welcome you to the Himalayan Range.” Hanuman was not interested in pleasantries and he scowled at the mountain’s soft voice. Dunagiri sighed, breath resonating deep in her earthen bones, for she could see the war-sick color of Hanuman’s eyes. She had known it as a woman, when her own family fought for Death. The love which Rama fought for was costing a heavy price of gentleness.
“I seek not pleasures, but of will to defeat Ravana. I need the herbs which return life to those slain in battle with the rakshasas.”
Hanuman impatiently searched the mountain. He swept through the valley, dashed through the trees, and left many rocks unturned. Finally, the son of the Wind-God shouted his anger and announced he would look no longer. Dunagiri was glad to hear Hanuman was planning to leave for his presence brought the mountain great distress. Then, the most astounding thing happened.
Hanuman placed his hands on either side of the mountain and pulled. Dunagiri tore from the Earth. Hanuman lifting her felt like an itch finally being scratched as an emptiness overtook the mountain’s connection with the ground. She tried to protest but Hanuman was already leaping away from the mountain’s range. Nanda Devi looked out from her own peak, the snow melting there as her rage grew.
Author's Note: This story is based on the chapter, Hanuman and Medicine Hill, from the Ramayana. I kept the original story within my own, but I wanted the story to reflect the mountain's journey and thoughts. I originally wrote the story from the point of view of the Himalayas, but after more research, I decided the Dunagiri appeared to be the mountain the story actually refers to. Within this story, Dunagiri's origins of holding the Sanjeevani plant are something that I took liberty in weaving into my story. The first portion is to get the reader settled into the actual story, which follows the introduction. Hanuman must retrieve the Sanjeevani plant in order to save both Rama's army and Rama's brother. Dunagiri, as hinted in my story, wishes to explore the world once more instead of being a stationary mountain. The next story for this storybook takes its origins from this one, by beginning the entrance of Nanda Devi who plays a starring role in the next story. Hanuman's actions, while perhaps pleasing to Dunagiri herself, caused anger in Nanda Devi and had strong consequences for the Wind-God's son. Overall, this story is supposed to reflect the emotions of the mountain Dunagiri.
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