The abode of God Siva.

The abode of God Siva.
[Himalaya Mountain.]

In South India, the dance of Lord Siva represents the rhythm and movement of the world spirit. One can witness the dance of Siva in the rising sun, in the waves of the Ocean, in the rotation of the planets and in the lightning of the thunder.

All the creations in the world evolve from the combination of the five elements earth, water, fire, air and ether. According to South Indian tradition Lord Siva is worshipped as “Prithvi or earth” at Kanchipuram, as “Appu or water” at Jambukeswaram as “Tejas or fire” ar Tiruvannamalai, as Vayu or Air” at Kalahasti and as “Akasa or ether” at Chidambaram.

The Indian Vedas also speak of “Meru” or “Sumeru” as being at the centre of the universe, which is perhaps symbolized by the Holy Mount Kailash, the abode of God “Siva”. The Himalaya Mountain sprang from the sea-bed a large number of lakes and rivers were created. It is faith of all people of India that Lord Siva is residing in the Mount Kailash. According to “Skanda Purana” there are Forty thousand Holy places at Lake “Manasarovar” which is fed by fourteen major rivers.

Siva is the Omnipotent God without form; the Sivalinga is the nearest manifestation of his formlessness as the unknown Deity. The Gods Brahma and Vishnu attempted to discover the top and bottom extremities of this column but failed.

God Siva and Parvati marriages in all temples of India symbolize the most ancient sacred type of marriages. Even to-day singing of Siva’s marriage [Gowri Kalyanam] verse is a must in all auspicious occasions all over India. This indicates that early man conceived or civilized family life through the worship of Lord Siva.

There are many legends about the circumambulation of Mount Kailash. No one can normally approach the inner Sanctum Sanctorum, the real abode of Lord Siva and Parvati Devi, through these valleys even though it appears so easy. The Tamil people have for long worshipped God Siva as light. Earlier Sivalinga described as triangular stone was the form of Sivalinga worship.

Abode of Lord Siva is considered to be Mount Kailash. Lord Siva himself spread over the Himalaya Mountain as unknown deity.