10 Facts About Mount Kailash – The Abode of Lord Shiva

Mt. Kailash is often described as the Gateway to Heaven. It is one of the most mysterious peaks in the Himalayas and lies 22,000 feet above the Tibetan plateau. Hence, it is not easy to reach and explore. Both Hindus and Buddhists believe that Mt. Kailash is the earthly manifestation of the mythical Mt. Meru and worship it. The sacred mountain lies 6,656 meters above sea level. Though it is not the tallest mountain in Tibet, no one has reached its summit. Ancient legends claim that only Milarepa, a Buddhist monk, had reached its peak. There is a belief that climbing Mt. Kailash can anger the gods.

1. Revered in Many Religions

Mount Kailash is important for four different religions - Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Tibet’s Bon religion. The mountain is unclimbable, and this helps preserve the sanctity of the mountain and the divine energies residing in it. Hindus believe that it is the abode of Lord Shiva and Parvati. Rishabdev, the first Jain Tirthankara, attained Nirvana here. Buddhists associate it with the legendary Chakrasamvara. Tibetans believe that their spiritual founder Shenrab descended from the heavens at this place.

2. Mount Meru – Sumeru Parbat

Hindus believe that Mount Kailash is Mt. Meru from the Hindu scriptures. Another belief is that Mt. Kailash is hollow on the inside. It is said that supernatural occurrences can be experienced inside the mountain. Scientists discovered that the top of Mt. Kailash is a man-made vacuum pyramid. It is also surrounded by more than 100 smaller pyramids. The direct height of the pyramid complex is 100 - 1,800 meters, while the Egyptian pyramid is only 146 meters. If this is true, it would be larger than other pyramid in the world. A prevailing belief is that the Kailash Pyramids may have been built by an advanced civilization of superhumans who understood the subtle laws of energy (the twist field) and knew how to control energy and time.

3. Kailash Kora

Kora, or circumambulation, marks one’s success in reaching Mt. Kailash. If one walks around Mount Kailash clockwise, it will take three days to complete the 52 km distance. A circumambulation can supposedly clear all the sins that one commits during a lifetime. 108 circumambulations help one achieve Nirvana or salvation.

4. It’s a Source of Knowledge

Mt. Kailash is where Shiva supposedly stored all his knowledge. Also, according to Buddhists, Rishabdev, the first Prophet of Jainism, stored all his knowledge and insights here.     

5. Axis Mundi      

Mt. Kailash is said to be the Axis Mundi or cosmic axis. It is also called the center of the earth, pillar of the earth, axis of the world, etc.

6. Spiritual and Demonic Lakes

One can find two lakes at the foothills of Mt. Kailash. Both have a distinctive character. One is Lake Mansarovar, which is the highest freshwater body in the world, at an elevation of 14,950 feet. The other is Rakshas Tal, which consists of salty water and has no aquatic life. This lake has an association with the demon king, Ravana, who did severe penance here to gain Shiva’s blessings. Its salinity and lack of aquatic life are ascribed to its demonic association. Interestingly, while the waters of Lake Manasarovar are always calm, even when it’s windy, the waters of Rakshas Tal are often restless. Hindu mythology says that Lake Manasarovar was first created by Brahma in his mind, and then it appeared on earth.

7. A Source of Sacred Rivers

Sacred rivers like the Indus, Sutlej, Brahmaputra, and Karnali originate from the four sides of Mount Kailash. These major rivers flow across Asia and sustain the people in Tibet and the Indian subcontinent.

8. Four Faces of Kailash

Most mountain faces have rough shapes, but the four faces of Kailash are different. Its four faces are aligned almost with four different directions. The edges of each face are seen to be perfectly aligned to the cardinal points. The mountain’s southern face has a vertical cleft which is punctuated by a horizontal line half-way down. This resembles the Aum symbol in Hinduism.

9. Mystical Sanctuaries

Sacred Hindu and Buddhist scriptures claim that ancient caves and monasteries exist around Mt. Kailash and that sages dwell here in both physical and ethereal forms. However, the caves are visible only to a fortunate few.

10. Accelerated Ageing

Many travelers and devotees claim that their nails or hair have grown longer after a visit to Mt. Kailash. The unique atmosphere here supposedly accelerates the aging process. It is said that some Siberian climbers who climbed beyond a certain point aged many decades almost instantly. Astonishingly, all of them succumbed to the effects of old age within a year.

Conclusion

Mount Kailash is not a mere mountain for people of many faiths. It is a storehouse of the knowledge acquired by many sages and by Shiva himself. This knowledge is meant to guide mankind. Though Mt. Kailash remains an enigma to mankind, its spiritual importance is undeniable.

One can reach Mt. Kailash via different routes from Nepal and India. For those who seek spiritual progress and inner peace, Mt. Kailash is definitely an important destination.