Malyavan

Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

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Malyavan (माल्यवान्) refers to a mountain situated in the country of Kishkindha. Mālyavān (माल्यवान्) also is another mountain near the Himālayas. The Pāṇḍavas visited this mountain on their way to the mountain Gandhamādana from the āśrama of Ārṣṭiṣeṇa. (Chapter 153, Vana Parva).

Variants

• Mālyavān (माल्यवान्)
• Malyavan Parvata माल्यवान् पर्वत (AS, p.741)

History

Mālyavān (माल्यवान्).—One of the seven mountains located in Jambūdvīpa, according to the Varāhapurāṇa chapter 75. Jambūdvīpa is ruled over by Āgnīdhra, one of the ten sons of Priyavrata was a son of Svāyambhuva Manu, who was created by Brahmā, who was in turn created by Nārāyaṇa, the unknowable all-pervasive primordial being.

1) Mālyavān (माल्यवान्).—A Pārṣada of Śiva. The most intimate friend of Mālyavān was Puṣpadanta. Curse of Mālyavān. Once Śiva was telling Pārvatī a story of the Gandharvas and Puṣpadanta heard it as he sat hiding in a place nearby. Pārvatī got angry and was about to curse when Mālyavān intervened and recommended for mercy. Pārvatī got angrier and cursed them both to be born on earth as men. They begged for relief and Pārvatī said: "In the deep depths of the forest of Vindhya mountains there lives a Yakṣa named Supratīka who has been turned into a devil called Kāṇabhūti by a curse. Puṣpadanta should narrate the story he has now heard to Kāṇabhūti and he will then be released from the curse. Kāṇabhūti would narrate to Mālyavān what he has heard from Puṣpadanta and Kāṇabhūti would then be released from his curse. Mālyavān should then make public the story he has heard and then he will also be released from the curse". Puṣpadanta was born as Vararuci in the city of Kauśāmbī and Mālyavān as Guṇāḍhya in the city of Supratiṣṭhita. (See under Guṇāḍhya). (See full article at Story of Mālyavān from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)

2) Mālyavān (माल्यवान्).—Son of the demon Sukeśa. He was the brother of Mālī and Sumālī.

2) This Mālyavān was the father of Rāvaṇa’s mother. They were all living in Pātāla but when Rāvaṇa obtained his boon he sent away Kubera from Laṅkā and became the ruler of Laṅkā. Mālyavān and other demons followed Rāvaṇa to Laṅkā and stayed with him confirming his sovereignty over the place.

2) In the Rāma-Rāvaṇa battle Sugrīva stole the crown of Rāvaṇa and kicked him on his face. Ashamed of the insult Rāvaṇa went back to his palace and the first person he saw was Mālyavān. The old man had come to advise Rāvaṇa to give back Sītā to Śrī Rāma. But Rāvaṇa did not like the advice and tore to pieces the letter of advice. (For more details see under Mālī).

3) Mālyavān (माल्यवान्).—A mountain. This mountain is situated between the mountains of Meru and Mandara in the country of Ilāvṛta. This mountain shines like gold. (Chapter 7, Bhīṣma Parva).

4) Mālyavān (माल्यवान्).—Another mountain near the Himālayas. The Pāṇḍavas visited this mountain on their way to the mountain Gandhamādana from the āśrama of Ārṣṭiṣeṇa. (Chapter 153, Vana Parva).

5) Mālyavān (माल्यवान्).—A mountain situated in the country of Kiṣkindhā. The fight between Bāli and Sugrīva took place near this mountain. This is on the banks of the river Tuṅgabhadrā. Uttara Rāmāyaṇa states that the palace of Sugrīva was on the top of this mountain. Śrī Rāma stayed on the beautiful peak of this mountain for four months. (Śloka 40, Chapter 280, Vana Parva). Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Mālyavan (माल्यवन्).—Mt. a mountain range to the east of Meru, south of Nīla, north of Niṣādha and west of Ilāvrata and a boundary limit of Ketumālā, a thousand yojanas in extent; the stream Cakṣus descends from its summits;1 at its top is Amarakaṇṭaka in Kalinga.2

1b) A son of Rākṣasa, Prahati; slain by Hari in the Devāsura war; his daughters were Puṣpotkaṭā and Vākā; father-in-law of Viśravas.*

1c) (varṣam) a kingdom of Bhadrāśva.*

1d) A son of Lanku.*

Source: https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/malyavan

Malyavana: Grandfather of Ravana

Malyavati River (माल्यवती नदी) flowing through Chitrakuta mentioned in Ramayana Ayodhya Kanda (2.56.38) was probably named after Malyavana, who was maternal grandfather of Ravana. This suggests that this river probably flowed through the territory of Lanka.

माल्यवान पर्वत

विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर ने लेख किया है .... माल्यवान पर्वत (AS, p.741): 1. किष्किंधा के निकट एक पर्वत जहां श्री राम और लक्ष्मण ने सीता हरण के पश्चात वर्षाकाल व्यतीत किया था-- 'तदा स बालिनं हत्वा सुग्रीवम् अभिषिच्य च, वसन् माल्यवतः पृष्ठे रामोलक्ष्मणम् अब्रवीत्।' वाल्मीकि. किष्किंधा. 27,1. रघुवंश 13-26 में इस पर्वत पर श्रीराम के प्रथम वर्षा प्रवास का सुंदर वर्णन किया गया है--'एतद्गिरेर्मालयवतः पुरस्तादाविर्भवत्यम्बर्लेखि शृङ्गं । नवं यत्र घनैर्मया च त्वद्विप्रयोगाश्रु समं विसृष्टं '. यह पर्वत किष्किंधा (हंपी, मैसूर) में विरुपाक्ष मंदिर से 4 मील दूर है. इसके निकट ही प्रवर्षणगिरि है. (देखें किष्किंधा, ऋष्यमुक)

2. हिमालय पर्वत-श्रेणी के उत्तरी भाग में स्थित एक पर्वत. महाभारत सभापर्व 28 दक्षिणात्य पाठ में इसका इस प्रकार उल्लेख है-- 'तं माल्यवंत शैलेन्द्रं समतिक्रम्य पाण्डवः, भद्राश्वं प्रविवेशाथ वर्षं स्वर्गोपमं शुभम्'. इस पर्वत का वर्णन शैलोदा नदी के पश्चात है जिसका अभिज्ञान खोतन नदी से किया गया है. अतः माल्यवान् इस नदी के उत्तर में स्थित शैल-श्रेणी का नाम जान पड़ता है.