“The All Auspicious Couple”
by Vishnudas

 

 

This painting was inspired by and created with the help of descriptions found in the books of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami and ancient Vedic scriptures.

Description of Kailasa

The following are quotes from the ancient Vedic texts of the Srimad Bhagavatam describing the majesty of Lord Shiva's and Parvati's dwelling place, Kailasa:

SB 4.6.9: The abode known as Kailasa is full of different herbs and vegetables, and it is sanctified by Vedic hymns and mystic yoga practice. Thus the residents of that abode are demigods by birth and have all mystic powers. Besides them there are other human beings, who are known as Kinnaras and Gandharvas and
are accompanied by their beautiful wives, who are known as Apsaras, or Angels.

SB 4.6.10: Kailasa is full of mountains filled with all kinds of valuable jewels and minerals and surrounded by all varieties of valuable trees and plants.
The top of the hill is nicely decorated by various types of deer.

SB 4.6.11: There are many waterfalls, and in the mountains there are many wonderful caves in which the very beautiful wives of the mystics are found.

SB 4.6.12: On Kailasa Hill there is always the rhythmical sound of the peacocks' sweet vibrations and the bees' humming. Cuckoos are always singing, and other birds whisper amongst themselves.

SB 4.6.13: There are tall trees with straight branches that appear to call the sweet birds, and when herds of elephants pass through the hills, it appears that the Kailasa Hill moves with them. When the waterfalls resound, it appears that Kailasa Hill does also.

SB 4.6.14-15: The whole of Kailasa Hill is decorated with various kinds of trees, of which the following names may be mentioned: mandara, parijata, sarala, tamala, tala, kovidara, asana, arjuna, amra-jati (mango), kadamba, dhuli-kadamba, naga, punnaga, campaka, patala, asoka, bakula, kunda and kurabaka.
The entire hill is decorated with such trees, which produce flowers with fragrant aromas.

SB 4.6.19-20: There are different kinds of lotus flowers, such as kumuda, utpala and satapatra. The forest appears to be a decorated garden, and the small lakes are full of various kinds of birds who whisper very sweetly. There are many kinds of other animals also, like deer, monkeys, boars, lions, rksas, salyakas, forest cows, forest asses, tigers, small deer, buffalo and many other animals, who are fully enjoying their lives.

SB 4.6.22: There is a small lake named Alakananda in which Sati (Shiva's wife who was reborn as Parvati) used to take her bath, and that lake is especially auspicious. All the demigods, after seeing the specific beauty of Kailasa Hill, were struck with wonder at the great opulence to be found there.

SB 4.6.23: Thus the demigods saw the wonderfully beautiful region known as Alaka in the forest known as Saugandhika, which means "full of fragrance."
The forest is known as Saugandhika because of its abundance of lotus flowers.

SB 4.6.24: They also saw the two rivers named Nanda and Alakananda. These two rivers are sanctified by the dust of the lotus feet
of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Govinda.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
This painting depicts the part of Lord Shiva's and Parvati's story when Parvati brought Shiva into a special garden which was created by Vasant, the god of Spring. At that time, as described above, this region known as Kailasa had the appearance of a lush tropical paradise, even though situated in the Himalayas. Although the eyes of ordinary people see only snowy rough terrain, mountains and pine trees there, the true beautiful and mystical abode of Shiva and Parvati is hidden from the non-devotees.

RETURN to The All Auspicious Couple