Vindhya Mountain: The Tapasthali of Sage Medha

Vindhyachal Mountain, besides being a great ground for science and knowledge, has also been the praying-abode of many saints and sages. This is same old mountain, where Lord Ram spent some time in meditation with His spouse Sita. Some ancient scriptures cite examples about supernatural powers obtained by great sages, by offering prayers and penance on this mountain, which can in no way be achieved by the modern-day science. It is said that even the great king Ravan also appeased goddess Mahakali by offering prayers here.
In fact, Vindhya mountain is the symbol of pride. To suppress this pride, the sages like Agastya, are needed, in all ages. 'Agastya' means the power, which wants to swallow even the high-rising sky. That is why the sages like Agastya are needed to suppress this evil power. Together with this will power (Agastya), the blessings of the mother goddess are required. So, as soon as the goddess Jagadamba, riding a lion, sat on the head of this 'pride' (Vindhya mountain), the mountain also became respectable. Sage Medha, the author of 'Durga Saptashati', also chose this mountain for his abode. He got enlightenment here only. He narrated the glories of the goddesses to king Sarath and Samadhi, a trader. In fact, a Medha (learned one) is needed to enter the triangular field, representing the abodes of Goddess Kali, Laxmi and Saraswati.
Goddess Jagdamba is riding a lion. The lion is nothing else but the Vindhya mountain itself. A lion wants to establish its empire by killing every other animal. The Vindhya mountain also wanted the same thing but it could not do so as the omni-potent Goddess sat on its head.
Sage Medha clearly had stated in his preaching that where a person's mind is devoid of all evils, only then he/she can ride a lion, meaning thereby a pious head (mind) can only conquer pride and then only can he/she defeat demons/evils. Gods also were defeated by demons because the gods became proud.
Sage Medha underwent serious tapasya at the topmost point of the Vindhya mountain and preached about the charitra of the Goddess there only. Sage Medha has great importance because he gained his sidhis at Vindhya mountain.
On other interpretation, Goddess Durga, who has controlled even ferious lion, is a medha (intelligent). That spotless mind, which is able to control the king of the jungle, is but medha only. Sage Medha chose two persons with different ideologies, as his first two audience – king Sarath, a materialist and trader, Samadhi, who had renounced the world.
Whosoever wishes to have an attractive body, is but a materialist ascetic, whereas the person wishing to obtain moksha is the one who has no worldly desires. King Sarath, who had been defeated by his enemies, worshipped the Goddess for obtaining material powers whereas the trader, Samadhi had been driven out of home by his sons and hence wished to renounce the world.
Sage Medha has described the tri-angular character of the Goddess, in "Durga Saptashati". The first charitra is that of Mahakali, symbolising Lord Vishnu's yog-nidra. Mahalakshmi is the second charitra and Maa Saraswati is the supreme charitra. The three charitras are worshipped by five types of devotees – aart, jigyasu, artharthi, kami and gyani. King Sarath is aart and artharthi whereas trader Samadhi is jigyasu and gyani. All the devotees of the Goddess have to visit the three-sights (triangle). According to Sage Medha, Mahalakshmi resides at the Vindhya kon whereas Mahasaraswati abodes at the Shesh kon.
This tapasthali of Sage Medha has been a centre of knowledge, science and learning since ages. The place at which Sage Medha obtained knowledge, is a miraculous place despite it being uninhabited. Throwing lights on the character of Sage Medha, Baba Narharidas points out that the tapasthali of the sage gets more miraculous powers during Navaratras. All the ferocious animals become docile and harmless during Navaratras. Thousands of people, lying under the open sky during the Navaratras without any harm, bears testimony to the above fact.
Finally, it is the holy place where the Ganga after touching the feet of Vindhya mountain, flows towards Kashi, the abode of Lord Shiva.