Gandhamardan Hills

Theology

In Hindu tradition, during the war between Lord Ram and Ravan, the physician Sushena advised Hanuman to bring the herb Bisalyakarani before dawn to revive Lakshman. Unable to identify the specific herb, Hanuman carried an entire Himalayan mass on his shoulders. While flying toward Lanka, a portion of that mass fell, and Gandhamardan is identified with that fallen portion. The Nrusinghanath Temple lies on the northern slope, and the Harishankar Temple on the southern slope.

History

During the Mahabharat period, the sage Drona resided on this mountain and taught the art of weaponry to select pupils, who became feared warriors. Some scholars identify this hill, rather than Nagarjunakonda, as the site of the monastery of Nagarjuna mentioned by Hiuen-Tsiang as Po-lo-mo-lo-ki-li, restored to Paramalagiri. This identification is supported by the hill's resemblance to Hiuen-Tsiang's description and traces of a large monastic establishment.

Bio-diversity

The Gandhamardan mountain ranges are a rich source of medicinal plant diversity. The Botanical Survey of India has reported 220 species of medicinal value, though local people claim over 500 species. A study recorded 2,700 angiosperms and 125 important medicinal plants out of 220 medicinal, quasi-medicinal, and economically vital species. Many plants such as Clerodendron indicum, Rauvolfia serpentina, and Plumbago zeylanica have become scarce.

Over 100 traditional healthcare practitioners live in and around the hills, serving about 50,000 tribal people. Two Ayurvedic colleges and hospitals exist on either side of Gandhamardan, one in Bargarh district and one in Balangir. Local people have great faith in Ayurvedic practitioners, and in many villages the main occupation is collecting herbs for companies like Dabur and Zandu. A study by M Brahma and H O Saxena recorded medicinal uses of nearly 200 species, finding 77 uses to be new or interesting.

Local communities and a peoples movement have been largely responsible for preserving the region's biodiversity, protecting their land and resources from corporate interests, and inspiring similar struggles across Odisha.