KAILASH SYMBOLISM

KAILASH SYMBOLISM:
It is traditionally believed, based on the Puranas, that Lord Shiva dwells at its summit. One is always asked to go beyond story lines and symbolisms. Mythology holds that the God of Destruction chose Kailasa because it is the mountain paradise, the ultimate destination of souls and spiritual centre of the Universe. Lord Brahma takes his abode in the sky in Brahmaloka; Mahavishnu in Vaikuntha and Lord Shiva occupying the only visible loka, Kailash.
This is most suitable for the Mahayogi, the Lord of all Yogis and He is said to occupy the ultimate place for renunciate ascetic.However, Lord Shiva is not a person who needs a place and an address. Kailash is no doubt holy, sacred and divinely connected to all human souls but it has to be seen symbolically also. It has a symbolic connection with the human body. It is surrounded by seven rings of rock representing the seven energy centers or chakras. One circumambulating the holy mountain not only makes an external walk but makes a journey to the secret areas of the soul. The physical journey is said to have an impact and resonate in the soul also.
Therefore, Mount Kailash can be said to be the physical counterpart of Lord Shiva, Pure Consciousness. In Kundalini yoga, it is sometimes said that Mount Kailash is actually the Sahasrara chakra in our body, the centre of Supreme Consciousness. Kundalini Shakti has to crawl upwards to reach the summit.

This is also mentioned in another myth. Lord Shiva apparently did not heed Mother Parvathi request for a permanent home. She was getting tired moving from Mount Kailasa to Mount Mandara. He pointed to a tree on the mountaintop for shade and shelter and She said that they would be subjected to hurricanes and monsoons. You have made others successful but deny me a house, She said and started weeping.
Women get quite a few things by this weeping business both above and below! I beg you, she said and with that the Lord’s heart melted.

“Alright” said Lord Shiva, “we would move away, from Kailash, Mandara and this tree.” Mother Parvathi was jubilant but it was an erstwhile thing for the Lord said “From now on, we shall enter the clouds, it will be our home and we shall remain inside them and the rains shall not affect us!” Hence, Lord Shiva earned a new name, ‘Jimutabahin’ which means ‘one who is inside the cloud.’

This again is symbolic. Clouds are illusory and represent Maya. Sun and Light are always there but clouds block this vision. ‘Ma’ means ‘not’ and ‘ya’ indicates ‘that’. Maya – Not that. In earlier Vedic literature, Varuna was a storm deity associated with clouds and rain. He was called Mayin who sent rain, create dawn and envelope the night with darkness.

‘Jimutabahin’ epithet goes on to symbolize that the Sun is hidden by the clouds but its character is not hidden by the modified dense collection of clouds. Similarly, the Self, pure and undefiled is veiled by the cloud of darkness and ignorance. Its power of Consciousness in living beings in the mortal world is not veiled. One is therefore asked to see through the clouds to unveil the Truth.

Aum Namah Shivay