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Mt. Gandhamadana is the tallest peak on Pamban Island which lies in the Palk Strait between mainland India and Sri Lanka.
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Location
Gandhamadana is located 3 kilometres from Rameswaram, almost midway between the western edge of the island and the ghost-town of Dhanushkodi at the corner of the eastern promonotory.
History
Mt. Gandhamadana is believed to be the hillock from whose summit, the Hindu god Hanuman commenced his flight to Ravana's Lanka. Kalidasa [Kumarasambhava, VI] refers to Gandhamadana, in the vicinity of the mythical city of Osadhiprastha in Himalaya Mountain, having Santanaka trees.
According to Nath tradition, following his quest for revenge, Parashurama sought spiritual enlightenment from Dattatreya on Mount Gandhamadana. Their dialogues led to the creation of Tripura Rahasya, a foundational text on Advaita Vedanta. Dattatreya guided the warrior-sage in understanding scriptures, renouncing worldly pursuits, and embracing the concept of non-duality, thereby liberating Parashurama from the cycle of death and rebirth.
