Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c8.240

c8.240

In the early yugas mountains had wings and they used to fly and drop to the ground as they liked. People used to live in fright always and at the request of the people Indra made the mountains stand in a row and cut off their wings. At that time the god Vāyu (wind) took away his friend Maināka and put him in the ocean. From that day onwards Maināka and the ocean developed an intimacy which even death could not wipe off. Hanūmān was the son of Vāyu, the friend and saviour of Maināka. It was because of that that Maināka gave refuge for Hanūmān on his way to Laṅkā. Because the ocean gave refuge to Maināka after its escape from the sword of Indra and because the ocean (Sāgara) was the creation of the sons of Sagara, a King of the Ikṣvāku race, Maināka felt indebted to Sagara and the entire race to which he belonged. Maināka thus had great respect for Śrī Rāma who belonged to the Ikṣvāku race. This was also responsible for Maināka giving relief to Hanūmān on his way to Laṅkā. (See under Parvata).
2) Other details.
(i) This mountain is situated near the lake Bindusarovara which was to the north of Kailāsa. Bhagīratha did penance to bring Gaṅgā to the earth on this mountain. (Chapter 3, Sabhā Parva).
(ii) Pāṇḍavas who went to the north crossed the mountain Maināka and went further. (Śloka 1, Chapter 139, Vana Parva).
(iii) The mountain Maināka shines with golden peaks. (Śloka 44, Chapter 145, Vana Parva).