Bheema, The Strongest Who Broke Shata Shrunga Into Pieces

bhIma is an avatar (incarnation) of Mukhya Prana (Vayu, the Hindu wind God). He is represented as 'Gyana' (knowledge) amongst the Pandavas. He was born to Kunti Devi and Pandu as Mantra Prasada (gift due to a recitation of a mantra) from Vayu Devaru (Wind God). He was a great devotee of Lord Narayana and he never ever violated the words of Lord Krishna. When he was very young, he slipped from his mother's clutches and fell on the Shata Shrunga Parvata (parvata-mountain) and the mountain broke. He was born with such strength. 

One shrunga of shata shrungas

Shata Shrunga mountain is called as the mountain of hundred peaks. It is situated to the west of Kolar town. Kolar is a city in the South Indian state of Karnataka and is known for gold mining. Kolar is called as the land of silk, milk and gold. Located 3 kilometer from, Antharagange is a sacred stream that pours sweet water from the mouth of a bull. This scenic spot is known as Shatha Shrunga Paravata, and is known to be abound in rocks of many shapes and sizes of rare flora and fauna. 'Shata' means hundred and 'Shrunga' means horns, hence the mountain with hundreds of peaks like the horns is called as the Shata Shrunga Parvata. 

HolidayIQ.com suggests 26 places to visit in Kolar. Check out for more information here. 

Sri Padarajaru has praised about Bhima's strength and have also mentioned about the falling down on this mountain when he was an infant, in his composition Madhwa Nama. In verse 13 of Madhwa Nama, he mentions

करदिंद  शिशुभावनाद  भीमन  बिडलु

गिरिवडेदु शतश्रिंगवेंदेनिसितु

हरिगळ  हरिगळिं  करिगळ  करिगळिं

अरेव  वीरनिगे  सुर  नररु  सरिये

ಕರದಿಂದ  ಶಿಶುಭಾವನಾದ  ಭೀಮನ  ಬಿಡಲು 

ಗಿರಿವಡೆದು ಶತಶ್ರಿಂಗವೆಂದೆನಿಸಿತು 

ಹರಿಗಳ  ಹರಿಗಳಿಂ  ಕರಿಗಳ  ಕರಿಗಳಿಂ 

ಅರೇವ  ವೀರನಿಗೆ  ಸುರಾ  ನರರು  ಸರಿಯೇ 

karadinda shishubhAvanAda bhImana biDalu

giriyoDedu shatashrungavendenesitu

harigaLa harigaLim karigaLa karigaLim

areda vIranige sura nararu sariye

Meaning - When the infant-like bhIma was dropped from his mother's lap, the mountain (on which his mother was present) broke into a hundred pieces. He pounded horses against horses and elephants against elephants, is there a human or god equal to this great warrior?

Word-by-word Meaning:

karadinda = from the hand

shishubhAvanAda = having the looks of an infant

bhImana = bhIma

biDalu = dropped

giriyoDedu = the mountain broke

shatashrungavendenesitu = shata + shrunga + vendu + enisitu(became hundreds of pieces)

harigaLa harigaLim = horses against horses

karigaLa karigaLim = elephants againts elephants

areda = grind

vIranige = warrior

sura = gods

nararu = humans

sariye = is there any equal

'ShishubhAvanAda' means having the look of an infant. This explains that bhIma was strongest even when he was an infant. Not that, he became strong when he grew up. Only his appearances changed with time, but there was no waxing or waning of strength and capabilities. 

While in Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya composed by Sri Madhwacharya, it is mentioned in Canto 12 Verse 55 that at the time of birth, Kunti Devi dropped Bheema out of fear when she heard a tiger roar. Due to this, the structure of the mountain named ShataShrunga became very weak. This explains that the mountain already had hundred peaks and did not break into hundred fragments after Bheema fell on it. Sri Madhwacharya mentions that the mountain became fragile and shaky after Bheema fell on it. 

तज्जन्ममात्रेण  धार  विदारित  शार्दूलभीताज्जननीकराद्यदा 

पपात  सञ्चूर्णित  एव  पर्वतस्तेनाखिलॉसोउ  शतशृउङ्गनामा 

tajjanmamAtrENa dhAra vidAritA shArdUlabhItAjjananIkarAdyadA

papAta sanchUrNita Eva parvatastEnAkhilOasou shatashRunganAmA

In Sumadhwa Vijaya composed by Sri Narayana Panditacharya, canto 1, verse 29 praises that the strength of Bheema was much more than Lord Indra. 

indrAyudham hIndrakarAbhinunnam

chichChEda pakshAn kshitidhAriNAm prAk

bibhEda bhUbhRudvapurangasangAchchitram

sa pannOjananIkarAgrAt

इन्द्रायुधं  हीन्द्रकराभिनुन्नम् 

चिच्छेद  पक्षान्  क्षितिधारिणाम्  प्राक् 

बिभेद  भूभृउद्वपुरङ्गसङ्गाच्चित्रम् 

स  पन्नोजननीकराग्रात 

Once, Indra threw vajrAyudha on Shata Shrunga Mountain and he could only cut off its wings. But, when Bheema slipped from his mother's hands and fell, he was able to break the mountain into several pieces due to the strength of his body. 

Such is the strength of Vayu Putra (Son of Vayu, the wind God) Bheema. His power of truly astonishing and unimaginable. 

References
https://anandatirtha.wordpress.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tourist_attractions_in_Kolar_district
http://creative.sulekha.com/madhva-commentary-part-4_301608_blog

Na Aham Karta Harih Karta
Hare Srinivasa