To the outside world, it may not be as easy to think of a mystical land on earth. However, those living in South Asia and those who have been heavily influenced by religion and adventure know that one of the most popular and mystical destinations on the face of our planet is Mt. Kailash. The mountain is a part of the Himalayas and the Gangdise Shan mountain range of Tibet.
The mountain is a part of both India and Tibet. Therefore, there has been a very major influence of Mount Kailash on the art and literature of both countries. From religion to folklore, many aspects of the mountain range have been famously spread by many who have lived for centuries.
To this day, the mountain holds a vital significance in Hinduism and the artistic world. Make sure to read till the end of this article to know about the influence of Mt. Kailash on art and literature!
Mount Kailash – Centre of the universe
There has been an ancient belief that Mount Kailash is the manifestation of Mount Meru, which is a mythical land. It is believed to this day that atop the mountain, there resides Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. This is one of the reasons why humans are not allowed to explore the mountain beyond a certain distance.
You can, however, enjoy the view of the majestic mountain from the lower part. Mount Meru does not exist as of the present time, and much of it has been described in ancient folklore and religious stories. The mountain was the one that had been considered the center of the world during ancient times.
Mount Meru is famous as the residence of different gods and goddesses in both Hindu and Tibetan cultures. Both Tibetans and Indians hold a sense of respect towards what is now known as a part of the ancient scriptures and artifacts. You can find pictures of the mythical mountain in different Hindu and Buddhist artworks.
Moreover, Mount Kailash has been known as the destination for those seeking enlightenment, or precisely speaking, a spiritual journey. One has to take at least 108 journeys around the mountain to attain enlightenment. This belief has brought pilgrims from all around the world on various journeys in and around the mountain. Therefore, it would be fair to say that Mount Kailash is the center of the universe for all these reasons.
Mythological stories from Mount Kailash in the literature
For several centuries now, everyone from South Asian culture may have heard about the mythological relation between Mount Kailash and the gods and goddesses. This peak holds the most significance in Hindu culture. While there are many assumptions as to how the mountain stood tall in the place where it is located today, there are just as many stories that tend to confirm such assumptions.
In ancient literature, it has been said that Mount Kailash is the gateway from Earth to the heavenly world. This is one of the reasons why those who have attempted to make it above a certain height in the mountain have either failed or never been able to return. In fact, to this day, there has been no record of any human who was able to climb the mountain. There will for sure, always be obstacles that hold back those willing to climb above a certain height of the mountain.
While the rugged nature of the peak can be deemed faulty for all that has been happening throughout several centuries, there is no denying that the mountain holds some really strong aura that keeps one from succeeding at its climb.
Mount Kailash is also famous for being the location where Lord Shiva defeated demon king Ravana in a battle. Not only are there Hindu followers but also Buddhist and Jain followers whose literature suggests religious stories from the past associated with the mountain. Buddha Shakyamuni is said to have gotten enlightened at the peak itself. Similarly, the founder of Jainism, Rishabhadeva, found Moksha, or liberation from birth and death, in Mount Kailash.
The stories as per the literature have brought about hundreds and thousands of pilgrims on the peak and the number only tends to increase with the passage of time, better resources to reach the peak, and passion towards the bygone time.
Creation of the Om symbol in Hinduism
The symbol “Om” in Hinduism, holds big significance in religion and art. It is still a mystery as to how the symbol originated. It has been said that the ancient Hindu sages from the Himalayas are the ones who brought about the symbol while other stories claim that it was created by the Chinese Emperor Fu Xi.
Mysterious magnetic anomaly of Mount Kailash
There is a very strong pull of gravity in Mount Kailash. No mountain in the world does not respond to the magnetic force of nature, not even Mount Everest, which is the tallest mountain in the whole world. As for Mount Kailash, a mysterious energy makes it impossible for compasses to work while every other instrument used for navigation is disrupted.
Although science and modern studies/research have come a long way from the past, even modern scientists and researchers are unable to come up with a legitimate explanation of why something supernatural as this occurs in the mountain. And to their surprise, no hint or phenomenon supports any possible claims.
Lakes resembling the sun and moon in Mount Kailash
There are quite too many reasons as to why one has no reason to believe that there is no strong force in and around Mount Kailash. This mountain has several lakes that show a close resemblance to the sun and the moon. There is almost no other mountain in the world that shows so much closeness with Hindu culture and religion. Many consider the shapes of the lakes to have a historical influence from meteors falling in the mountain while others consider it a natural formation with much relation to the ancient religion.
The lake resembling the sun is considered the birthplace of Lord Brahma. It is known as Manasarovar. Similarly, the lake that is shaped like the moon is known as Rakshesa-tal and is believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva. While the origins of both the lakes are still a mystery, you will surely enjoy the beautiful view of the lakes surrounded by tall peaks as if guarding both the lakes from different footage and pictures of the area.
Read more: Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) Simulation for Embedded Systems Testing
Unnatural shape of the mountain – Stories of aliens and Mount Kailash
Different mountains from all around the world have different shapes and the stories associated with these peaks are just as distinct. However, most of the stories about every other mountain come from the assumptions of the formation of Earth and have different natural phenomena justifying the stories. Mount Kailash remains an exception in this case, yet again.
Unlike most tall mountains in the world, the mountain is shaped differently. Even the most genius geologists and scientists have not yet been able to confirm how natural Mount Kailash’s shape is. You can easily assume that it looks very man-made, and unnatural to say the most. Stories from the past and the beliefs of conspiracists suggest that the mountain is not simply a mountain but a spacecraft of aliens that once visited the Earth a long time ago. There is, whatsoever, no evidence of such stories.
Conclusion
Mount Kailash has been the subject of art and literature for different cultural and religious groups in the world, especially in Asia. Many make different assumptions and have been believing different stories about the mountain throughout the years. Visitors who visit the Kailash temple have many stories that justify the ancient stories and folktales about the mountain.
It is even said that time stops when you are at the peak and a lot of devotees as well as conspiracy theorists have been crafting their presumptions concerning the existence and origin of the peak.
You can only come up with your guesses about the mountain when you visit it. Further, the art and literature revolving around Mount Kailash surely are some of the most interesting ones one can find given the summit exists as it had several years ago.
Read More: https://abovethehimalaya.com/kailash-mansarovar-yatra.html
