Lord Shiva is the King of the Mountains and why so is defined in this article with excerpts from Shiva Purana to Devi Bhagwad Purana. Know how the destroyer and preserver is a pookie in real life.

Why Shiva Lives At Kailash Parwat?

In Hindu mythology, it is traditionally believed that high in the Himalayas, where the air is thin and the snow never melts, is Mount Kailash which is recognized as the abode of God Shiva along with his consort Goddess Parvati and their children, God Ganesha and God Kartikeya.

Who is Shiva?

If we want to understand why Shiva resides on Mount Kailash, we must first try to understand who Shiva is. Shiva is not like flamboyant Vishnu or the majestic Vishnu, he is raw. He is untamed, aloof, deeply meditative and yet filled with immense love. He is the creator and the destroyer of the universe and therefore his abode had to reflect that duality of his that is both destructive and peaceful. So, Mount Kailash in its icy silence and immovable majesty, mirrors Shiva perfectly.

God Shiva is also the master of the Yogic Arts and it is believed that he performs Yogic rituals on Kailash as it is a peaceful and beautiful place. According to a legend, the most significant Mansarovar Lake in Hinduism, at the foot of the mountain which is known as the lake of creation of all life was created by Shiva.

Why did he chose Mount Kailash?

Reason 1: Kailash is not just any mountain rather it is still, untouched by time and its peak has never been conquered. This is not because of the lack of ability as many expert mountaineers have tried but most reported a strange sense of unease and some even turn back voluntarily. Devotees in Tibet call Kailash as Kang Rinpoche which means a precious jewel of Snow. Further, geographically too, Kailash is the centre axis of the Earth, hence it is believed that God Shiva chose Kailash so that he can take care of all his created living beings by staying on Kailash since he is the Jagatkaarana and Jagatpaalana which means who created the universe and who runs it.

Reason 2: It is also said that the four great rivers namely the Indus, Sutlej, Brahmaputra and Karnali, all originate near this mountain which symbolizes life flowing from the divine stillness. According to our Puranas, the four faces of Mount Kailash are made from crystal, ruby, gold and lapis lazuli. It is also called the pillar of the world and as Shiva is the lord of detachment and renunciation and does not reside in palaces so his home is far from human settlements at the top of the world, amidst silence and snow. Kailash isn’t a place of worldly glory rather it is a place of absolute surrender.

Reason 3: Moreover another reason as to why Shiva resides on Mount Kailash is that it is a home fit for Parvati. She is the goddess of love, fertility and devotion, all this is everything Shiva is not on the surface, yet everything he completes within himself. Their love story plays out on Mount Kailash signifying a balance of Shiva as Shakti and Shakti as Shiva. Many people believe that Himalayas were the parental home of Parvati (as the daughter of Himavan) and Kailash was a natural place for her to return and rule as queen alongside her lord.

Reason 4: Another tale from Shiva Purana related to Ravana and Shiva’s test is also related to Mount Kailash. Ravana, the demon king of Lanka tried to uproot Kailash to take it to Lanka and to prove his devotion to Shiva. Shiva was amused and slightly annoyed by this act of Ravana and pressed the mountain down with his toe, pinning Ravana beneath it. The mighty king cried out in agony, singing hymns of praise which further became the Shiva Tandava Strotam. Shiva was pleased with his devotion and after 1000 years finally freed him but the lesson was clear that Kailash is immovable just like Lord Shiva’s grace.

Reason 5: Devotees also believe that sages like Vyasa, Milarepa and Adi Shankaracharya came close to Kailash but never climbed it. This belief solidifies that you don’t conquer Kailash, you circle it. Pilgrims also perform the Parikrama of the mountain instead, believing that even that grants liberation. Therefore, the mountain has this energy that humbles egos. Perhaps that’s why Shiva chose it.

Therefore, for seekers, Shiva on Kailash represents the highest peak of consciousness where ego melts, desires fade and one becomes one with divinity. That is why yogis and sages meditate upon him and that is why millions walk miles to catch a glimpse of his mountain. Shiva lives at Kailash because it is not just a mountain but a symbol, for seekers, it is the ultimate test of faith. For scientists it is an unsolved riddle and for Shiva it is the perfect throne which is untouchable, unconquered and eternal. So, maybe we are not meant to understand Kailash but to feel it just as we don’t understand Shiva, we experience him.

 

This article was written by our very talented writer, Nikita. We do not like to take credit for our team’s work, so Nikita, shoutout girl.

 

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