Originally posted by: Vibhishna
I'll put forth all the information I know.
It is very much possible that the British had changed the previous name of Andaman Islands. It need not be HanDuman, but it could have been changed from Gandaman to Andaman. The natives sometimes call it Handaman Islands.
It is possible that Andaman Islands are the famous Gandaman mountains. The islands we see above the surface of the sea are really the mountains that reach above the sea level. Again I'm guessing - The sea level might have been lower ages and ages ago during the Treta Yuga. The traces of the bridge Lord Ram built (called Adam's bridge) to cross over to Lanka still exists. So, these islands must have been like huge mountains in those times (my guess again).
Gandha means smell - in this case fragrance or incense. The Gandhaman mountain was famous for its mesmerising fragrance.
Another of my guesses - Since Ravan was a stauch devotee of Lord Shiva and worshiped Mother Durga and Mother Chandi regularly. He must have have known that Mother Durga will be very happy if offered blue lotuses. And these flowers might have been available nearby. It would have been easy for Ravan to get them if it was growing in the Andaman Islands - not very far from Lanka.
A couple of stories come to my mind regarding this topic.
The Gandhaman mountain (or mountains) are mentioned in the Mahabharath too. It was said that after Ram left this world, Hanuman lived in the Gandhaman mountains meditating on Lord Ram's name.
Narayanashrama was a holy place where many sages spent their lives in meditaiton.The Pandavas stayed there for some time during their exile. One day, Draupadi saw a thousand petaled lotus that came floating down the river. She approached Bheem and asked him to get more such flowers so that they can worship the sages and gods with those flowers. Since Draupadi rarely asks him anything, he immediately set out along the river (in the opposite direction of the river flow) to get more such flowers.
The path he followed led him to a mountain. Bheem followed the river bank and wondered if this was the famous Gandhamana. He saw many strange animals and plants that he had never seen before in his life. The cool breeze and the fragrance of the flowers was too mesmerising, (the name Gandhaman or Gandhamana means fragrant mountain, I think. Gandha means smell or as in this case fragrance. It is said that this mountain was named so because of the mesmerising fragrance) but Bheem kept going for Draupadi. The sound of his footseps scared all living creatures in the forests of the mountain. They ran away in fear making a huge noise. This disturbed Hanuman . With his divine sight he understood who has come and for what. Hanuman decided to play with his brother for a while.
Hanuman lashed his tail on the ground. It made a terrifying sound. This attracted Bheem's attention and when he looked about, he found an old monkey (Hanuman) lying down across a clearing.
Hanuman : Who are you? Why have you come here?
Bheem : I am the son of Kunti. I am called Bhima.
Hanuman : Alright, having come here, eat some fruits and depart. I am an old monkey. This is my place. You can't go any further. Don't disturb me. Please turn back.
Bheem : Oh monkey! I am not afraid of anybody. Give me way or you will be punished.
Hanuman : Bhima, I am too old to move. You can cross over me and go.
Bheem : You look like a respectable person. If you were an ordinary monkey, I would have jumped over you like Hanuman who jumped across the mighty ocean in a single leap. Move aside. Otherwise I have to deal with you in a rough manner.
Hanuman : (Pretending to be afraid) Mighty Bhima! I am unable to move. If you can move aside my tail, you can proceed.
Bheem : I shall toss you aside by your tail!
Bheem carelessly pushed the tail with his leg. The tail did not move an inch. He tried with both the hands and then with all of his strength (The full strength of Bheem was equivalent to 8000 elephants) but in vain.
After many futile efforts . . .
Bheem : Revered Sir, you are no ordinary monkey. You must be a great person. Please reveal your identity.
Hanuman : Bhima! I am your brother Hanuman.
Bheem : Brother! Forgive me and bless me.
After much pleading Hanuman revealed his cosmic form (Viswaroop) to Hanuman.
Hanuman : Bhima, we should always show respect to elders. May the Lord help you in all efforts. The flowers you are searching for can be found in abundance nearby in Kuber's pond.
Hanuman embraced his brother and showed him the way to Kuber's pond.
Bheem collected the flowers from that pond and came back to Draupadi. He also told her that it was his good fortune to have met his brother Hanuman that day and he got the flowers by his grace.
To be followed in my next post . . .
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