Wonderful Abode of Lord Shiva - Kailasa

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Thanks for this, Nileshji :-)

 

 

 

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Ref: Srimad Bhagvatam Canto 4.

 

The abode known as Kailasa is full of different herbs and vegetables,

and it is sanctified by Vedic hymns and mystic yoga practice. Thus

the residents of that abode are demigods by birth and have all mystic

powers. Besides them there are other human beings, who are known as

Kinnaras and Gandharvas and are accompanied by their beautiful wives,

who are known as Apsaras, or angels.

 

Kailasa is full of mountains filled with all kinds of valuable jewels

and minerals and surrounded by all varieties of valuable trees and

plants. The top of the hill is nicely decorated by various types of

deer.There are many waterfalls, and in the mountains there are many

beautiful caves in which the very beautiful wives of the mystics are

found.

 

On Kailasa Hill there is always the rhythmical sound of the peacocks'

sweet vibrations and the bees' humming. Cuckoos are always singing,

and other birds whisper amongst themselves.

 

The whole of Kailasa Hill is decorated with various kinds of trees,

of which the following names may be mentioned: mandara, parijata,

sarala, tamala, tala, kovidara, asana, arjuna, amra-jati (mango),

kadamba, dhuli-kadamba, naga, punnaga, campaka, patala, asoka,

bakula, kunda and kurabaka. The entire hill is decorated with such

trees, which produce flowers with fragrant aromas. There are other

trees also which decorate the hill, such as the golden lotus flower,

the cinnamon tree, malati, kubja, mallika and madhavi.

 

Kailasa Hill is also decorated with such trees as kata, jackfruit,

julara, banyan trees, plaksas, nyagrodhas and trees producing

asafetida. Also there are trees of betel nuts and bhurja-patra, as

well as rajapuga, blackberries and similar other trees.

 

There are mango trees, priyala, madhuka and inguda. Besides these

there are other trees, like thin bamboos, kicaka and varieties of

other bamboo trees, all decorating the tract of Kailasa Hill.

 

There are different kinds of lotus flowers, such as kumuda, utpala

and satapatra. The forest appears to be a decorated garden, and the

small lakes are full of various kinds of birds who whisper very

sweetly. There are many kinds of other animals also, like deer,

monkeys, boars, lions, rksas, salyakas, forest cows, forest asses,

tigers, small deer, buffalo and many other animals, who are fully

enjoying their lives.

 

There are varieties of deer, such as karnantra, ekapada, asvasya,

vrka and kasturi, the deer which bears musk. Besides the deer there

are many banana trees which decorate the small hillside lakes very

nicely.

 

There is a small lake named Alakananda in which Satî used to take her

bath, and that lake is especially auspicious. All the demigods, after

seeing the specific beauty of Kailasa Hill, were struck with wonder

at the great opulence to be found there

 

Bathing ghatas and their staircases were made of vaidurya-mani. The

water was full of lotus flowers. Passing by such lakes, the demigods

reached a place where there was a great banyan tree.

 

That banyan tree was eight hundred miles high, and its branches

spread over six hundred miles around. The tree cast a fine shade

which permanently cooled the temperature, yet there was no noise of

birds

 

The demigods saw Lord Siva sitting under that tree, which was

competent to give perfection to mystic yogis and deliver all people.

As grave as time eternal, he appeared to have given up all anger.

 

He was seated on a deerskin and was practicing all forms of

austerity. Because his body was smeared with ashes, he looked like an

evening cloud. On his hair was the sign of a half-moon, a symbolic

representation.

 

His left leg was placed on his right thigh, and his left hand was

placed on his left thigh. In his right hand he held rudraksa beads.

This sitting posture is called virasana. He sat in the virasana

posture, and his finger was in the mode of argument.