Story of Kailāsa

General information

The mount Mahāmeru has an area of eighteen thousand nāzhikas (Indian mile of (1/4) Kośa) and a height of two thousand nāzhikas. On the eastern side of this mount there are two mountains called Jaṭhara and Devakūṭa. Pavamāna and Pāriyātra are the two mountains on the western side. On the south there are the two mountains of Kailāsa and Karavīra. The two mountains on the north are called Triśṛṅga and Makaragiri. It is stated in Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapters 109 and 141 that the abodes of Śiva and Kubera are on the mount Kailāsa. Once, to please Śiva, Mahāviṣṇu performed penance on Kailāsa. (Mahābhārata Ādi Parva, Chapter 222, Stanzas 33 to 40). It is mentioned in Mahā Bhārata, Sabhā Parva, Chapter 3 that the mountain Maināka stands to the north of Kailāsa. Once Vyāsa went to Kailāsa. (Mahābhārata Sabhā Parva, Chapter 43, Stanza 17). In Vana Parva, Chapter 106, mention is made that the King Sagara, with his two queens, once went to Kailāsa for penance. It was on the Kailāsa that Bhagīratha performed penance to propitiate Śiva to bring down Gaṅgā. Kailāsa is hundred yojanas high. The devas come to this place daily and return. It is mentioned in Sabhā Parva, Chapter 141, that in the place where Kubera lives on Kailāsa there live a large number of Yakṣas (demi-gods), Rākṣasas (giants) Kinnaras (heavenly musicians), Garuḍas (hawks) Mātaṅgas (elephants) and Gandharvas (semi-gods). The lake of lotus of Kubera which was reached by Bhīmasena once, was in Kailāsa. In Vana Parva, it is mentioned that the Pāṇḍavas visited Kailāsa during their forest life. It could be understood from Mahābhārata, Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 83 that Kāmadhenu performed penance on the Kailāsa, once.