WilfredBirmingha at 07:43, 12 April 2026

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{{Short description|Celestial abode of Shiva in Hinduism}}
{{Redirect|Kailasa|the mountain|Mount Kailash|the claimed micronation|Kailaasa|other uses|Kailash (disambiguation)}}
[[Image:Hindukailash.JPG|thumb|An illustration depicting [[Shiva]] with his family at Kailasha]]

'''Kailasha''' or '''Kailasa''' ({{IAST3|Kailāsa}}) is the celestial abode of the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] god [[Shiva]]. It is traditionally recognized as a mountain where Shiva resides along with his consort [[Parvati]], and their children, [[Ganesha]] and [[Kartikeya]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Chandra|first1=Suresh|title=Encyclopaedia of Hindu Gods and Goddesses|date=1998|publisher=Sarup and Sons|isbn=978-81-7625-039-9|page=93|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mfTE6kpz6XEC|access-date=6 September 2023}}</ref> [[Mount Kailash]], located in the [[Transhimalaya]], in the western part of the [[Tibetan Plateau]], is considered as a geographic manifestation of Kailasha.

== Etymology ==
The name is given as "''{{transliteration|sa|IAST|Kailāsa}}''" ({{lang|sa|कैलास}}; var. ''{{transliteration|sa|IAST|Kailāśa}}'' {{lang|sa|कैलाश}}) in [[Sanskrit]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Sanskrit Dictionary|url=http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/cgi-bin/monier/serveimg.pl?file=/scans/MWScan/MWScanjpg/mw0311-kesaragrAma.jpg|page=311|publisher=[[Monier-Williams]]|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.2:1:1523.apte|title=Entry for कैलासः|publisher=Apte Sanskrit-English Dictionary|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=8 July 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708062933/http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.2:1:1523.apte|url-status=dead}}</ref> It could have been derived from the word "''{{transliteration|sa|IAST|kelāsa}}''" ({{lang|sa|केलास}}), which means "crystal".<ref>{{cite web|url= http://faculty.washington.edu/prem/mw/k.html|title=Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary|last= Williams|first= Monier|quote= kelāsa m. crystal W|access-date=10 October 2017|archive-date=31 August 2018|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180831043117/http://faculty.washington.edu/prem/mw/k.html|url-status= dead}}</ref>

== Theology and mythology ==
The abode of Kailasha is said to be guarded by a set of [[Gana|ganas]] led by [[Nandi (mythology)|Nandi]], the ''[[vahana]]'' (mount) of Shiva.<ref>{{harvnb|Bansal|2005|page=59}}</ref> According to the ''[[Puranas]]'', Shiva and Parvati are often described as engaged in discussions regarding Hindu philosophies seated in Kailasha.<ref>{{harvnb|Bansal|2005|page=37}}</ref> Other gods and [[Deva (Hinduism)|devas]] are described as assembling at Kailasha to witness Shiva taking the form of [[Nataraja]] and engaging in a [[Tandava|cosmic dance]].<ref>{{harvnb|Bansal|2005|page=42}}</ref>

[[Hindus]] believe Kailasha to be the [[Mount Meru]] which is considered to be a stairway to ''[[Svarga]]'', a heaven where the devas reside.<ref>{{harvnb|Allen|1982|page=21}}</ref> Meru is considered as the center of the universe and is said to be {{cvt|139440|km|abbr=on}} high, connecting the earth with the under world and heaven with Shiva residing on top of the mountain.<ref>{{harvnb|Chamaria|1996|page=17}}</ref>

According to the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Kailasha is located amidst the ''Himavat'' range between Malayavat and Gandhamadhana mountains. Some scriptures indicate that Shiva resides in a horn of the mountains called as ''Saivatra''.<ref>{{harvnb|Chamaria|1996|page=25}}</ref> The text further states that the mountain gleans of gold when the rays of the sun fall on it and is said to contain lovely woods, lakes, rivers adorned with fruit trees, precious stones and life saving herbs. It also describes Kailasha as the means to reach heaven and only a being without any sins would be able to scale it.<ref>{{harvnb|Chamaria|1996|page=24}}</ref> Kailasha is said to have a golden gate nearby a lake called ''Alaka'' adorned with golden lotuses and sweet tasting water from which [[Mandakini river]] arises.<ref>{{harvnb|Chamaria|1996|page=25}}</ref> As per the ''Mahabharata'', the [[Pandavas]], along with their wife [[Draupadi]], traveled towards the summit of Kailasha as a means to reach heaven, but only [[Yudhishthira]], who was accompanied by a dog, was able to make it.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news24online.com/india/mysteries-of-kailash-what-are-these-9-foot-tall-entities-found-in-mansarovar-mkir/177672/|title=Mysteries of Kailash: What Are These 9-Foot Tall Entities Found In Mansarovar?|work=News24|date=4 October 2023|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/358356740|title=Yudhishthira body still frozen in the glacier Kailash|date=February 2022|doi=10.13140/RG.2.2.23153.15204|journal=ResearchGate|author=Manoj Nalanagula}}</ref>

The Hindu epic ''[[Ramayana]]'' describes Kailasha and [[Lake Manasarovar]] as places unlike anywhere in the world. It also uses Kailasha as a reference to describe the mountains of [[Kishkindha]].<ref>{{harvnb|Chamaria|1996|page=26}}</ref> According to the ''[[Uttara Kanda]]'' of the epic, it is said that [[Ravana]] attempted to uproot Kailasha as retaliation against Shiva, who in turn, pressed his right big toe upon the mountain, trapping Ravana in between. This representation of Shiva is also referred to as [[Ravananugraha]] (meaning "form showing favour to Ravana") while seated upon his abode at Kailasha.<ref>{{cite book|last=Dallapiccola|first=Anna L.|title=[[Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend]]|publisher=[[Thames & Hudson]]|year=2003|chapter=Ravananugrahamurti|isbn=978-0-500-51088-9|chapter-url=http://www.credoreference.com/entry/thhll/ravananugrahamurti}}</ref>

The ''[[Vishnu Purana]]'' states that Kailasha is a pillar of the world, located at the heart of six mountain ranges symbolizing a [[Nelumbo nucifera|lotus]]. It also states that the four faces of Mount Kailasha are made of [[crystal]], [[ruby]], [[gold]], and [[lapis lazuli]].<ref>{{harvnb|Allen|1982|page=22}}</ref> It further talks about Shiva sitting in a lotus position, engaged in deep meditation within the confines of the mountain.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Mohan|first1=T.S.|title=Kailash Yatra|journal=Hinduism Today|date=Jan–Mar 2012|volume=34|issue=1|pages=18–33|url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=70696022&site=eds-live&scope=site|issn=0896-0801|id=70696022}}</ref> The mountain is home to four lakes, whose water is shared by the gods and four rivers that originate from the [[Ganges]] and flow to the earth. The ''[[Vayu Purana]]'' describes similarly with the mountain located close to a lake consisting of clear water with lotuses and lilies decked with water birds.<ref>{{harvnb|Chamaria|1996|page=28}}</ref> The ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'' places Kailasha as located south of Mount Meru. The ''[[Skanda Purana]]'' mentions the lake Manasarovar with Kailasha and describes the abode as located on the highest peak, perpetually covered with snow.<ref>{{harvnb|Chamaria|1996|page=29}}</ref> The ''[[Kumārasambhava]]'' and the ''[[Meghadūta]]'' by [[Kālidāsa]] also have similar descriptions of Kailasha.<ref>{{harvnb|Chamaria|1996|page=31}}</ref>

== Geographical location ==
[[File:Kailash north.JPG|thumb|[[Mount Kailash|Mount Kailasha]], located in the [[Transhimalaya]], is often considered to be a geographic manifestation of Kailasha]]
[[Mount Kailash|Mount Kailasha]], located in the [[Gangdise Shan|Kailasha Range]] (Gangdisê Mountains) of the [[Transhimalaya]] in the western part of the Tibetan Plateau, is considered to be a geographic manifestation of Kailasha and is considered sacred in Hinduism.<ref name="KI">{{cite journal|last1=Izu|first1=Kenro|title=Passage to Kailash|journal=World Literature Today|date=2013|volume=87|issue=2|pages=68|doi=10.7588/worllitetoda.87.2.0068|s2cid=163370522 }}</ref> Multiple rivers originate from these mountains including the [[Yarlung Tsangpo]] (which becomes the [[Brahmaputra]]), the [[Indus]], the [[Sutlej]] and the [[Karnali River|Karnali]], a tributary of [[Ganges]]. All these river systems originate in a {{cvt|60|km2|abbr=on}} area in the Kailasha region.<ref name="Freeman">{{cite journal|url=https://www.alpinejournal.org.uk/Contents/Contents_2003_files/AJ%202003%20103-110%20Freeman-Attwood%20Gangdise.pdf|title=Gangdise Mountains|journal=[[Alpine Journal]]|author=Freeman Attwood|year=2003|volume=4|pages=103–109}}</ref> Kailasha is located close to [[Lake Manasarovar|Manasarovar]] and [[Lake Rakshastal|Rakshastal]] lakes. Mansarovar is a high altitude fresh water lake fed by glaciers and overflows into Rakshastal, an [[Endorheic basin|endorheic]] salt water lake.<ref>{{cite book|last= Brockman|first=Norbert|date=2011|title=Encyclopedia of Sacred Places, Volume 1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JkSk4euA-TEC&pg=PA356|publisher=ABC-CLIO|page=356|isbn=978-1-598-84654-6|access-date=4 April 2019}}</ref>

Due to its perceived sacredness, people from India, Nepal and other countries undertake a pilgrimage called ''yatra'' to the mountain.<ref name="kmy">{{cite web|title=Kailash Manasarovar Yatra|url=https://kmy.gov.in/kmy/?lang=en|publisher=Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India|access-date=30 July 2022|archive-date=17 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220617011329/https://kmy.gov.in/kmy/?lang=en|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="NYT">{{cite news|author1=Karen Swenson|title=A Sacred Circuit in Tibet|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/16/travel/a-sacred-circuit-in-tibet.html|access-date=30 July 2022|work=The New York Times|date=16 March 2003}}</ref> The pilgrimage involves trekking towards Lake Manasarovar and a circumambulation of Mount Kailasha. The path around Mount Kailasha is {{convert|53|km|mi|abbr=on}} long. [[Pilgrim]]s believe that doing a circumambulation of Mount Kailasha on foot is a spiritually beneficial practice that can bring various positive effects, such as the collection of meritorious karma, the cleansing of sins from one's consciousness, and good fortune. The circumambulation is made in a clockwise direction by the Hindus.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Bubriski|first1=Kevin|title=Kailash Yatra: a Long Walk to Mount Kailash through Humla|last2=Pandey|first2=Abhimanyu|publisher=Penguin Random House|year=2018|location=New Delhi|page=151}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Akaniṣṭha]]
* [[Brahmaloka]]
* [[Goloka]]
* [[Manidvipa]]
* [[Vaikuntha]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|title=Hindu Gods and Goddesses|first=Sunita Pant|last=Bansal|year=2005|isbn=978-8-187-96772-9|publisher=Smriti Books}}
* {{cite book|title=A Mountain in Tibet|first=Charles|last=Allen|year=1982|publisher=Futura Publications|isbn=0-7088-2411-0}}
* {{cite book|title=Kailash Manasarovar on the Rugged Road to Revelation|first=Pradeep|last=Chamaria|year=1996|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=978-8-170-17336-6}}
{{refend}}

[[Category:Mountains in Hinduism]]
[[Category:Places in Hindu mythology]]
[[Category:Conceptions of heaven]]

Kailasha - Revision history

WilfredBirmingha at 07:43, 12 April 2026