Maṇiparvata
Maṇiparvata · maṇi-parvata, “the mountain of gems”
Maṇiparvata, the gem mountain, is the peak of the Mandara mountain, the mine of gems, which Naraka, lord of Prāgjyotisha, carried off. After Śrī Kṛshṇa slew Naraka, he found the gem mountain in Naraka’s house, set it on the divine vāhana Garuḍa with the umbrella of Varuṇa, and carried it to the city of the devas. The Brahma Purāṇa tells this in the account of the slaying of Narakāsura, which Vyāsa tells the munis.
Carried off by Naraka
Indra came on Airāvata to Śrī Kṛshṇa at Dvāravatī and told him of the deeds of Naraka, the son of Bhūmi, lord of the city of Prāgjyotisha. Naraka tormented all beings. He had carried off the maidens of the devas, siddhas and others and held them captive in his house. He had seized the umbrella of Varuṇa, which pours forth water. He had carried off the peak of the Mandara mountain, the mine of gems. He had taken the amṛta-flowing kuṇḍalas (earrings) of Aditi, Indra’s mother, and now he wanted Airāvata.
Śrī Kṛshṇa smiled gently, took Indra by the hand and rose. Garuḍa came as soon as he was thought of, and with Satyabhāmā seated on him Śrī Kṛshṇa went to Prāgjyotisha. He cut the terrible nooses that ringed the city for a hundred yojanas with the Sudarśana, slew Mura and burned his seven thousand sons in the fire of the cakra’s edge, slew Hayagrīva, struck down thousands of daityas, and with the cakra cut Naraka in two.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 202
Taken back on Garuḍa
When Naraka fell, Bhūdevī gave Aditi’s kuṇḍalas to Śrī Kṛshṇa and praised him. Then he took the treasures in Naraka’s house and the sixteen thousand one hundred maidens of the inner palace, and had the elephants and horses he found there sent to Dvārakā. The umbrella of Varuṇa was found there, and likewise the Maṇiparvata, the gem mountain. Hari set them on Garuḍa, king of birds, and seated on him with Satyabhāmā he went to Tridaśapurī, the city of the devas, to give the kuṇḍalas to Aditi.
Garuḍa flew on, carrying at his ease the umbrella of Varuṇa, the gem mountain, and Hari with his wife. At the gate of svarga Hari blew his conch, and the devas came to meet him with the arghya vessel.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Chapters 202–203
Sources
- Brahma Purāṇa, Chapters 202–203