Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 675

KAILASA AND VAIKUNTHA
(535
The seven famous penitents, or munis, and an infinite
number of other saints are the habitual guests of Indra.
Entrance to Swarga is granted to all virtuous persons,
without exception, of whatever rank or caste, provided
they have attained on earth the required degree of sanctity.
Kailasa.
Above Swarga
a city constructed on a triangular plan.
It is called Kailasa, and sometimes Parvata (mountain).
It is a charming place.
Siva rules over it, and it is here
that he resides with his wife Parvati. They are both
depicted as giving themselves up continually to carnal
pleasures.
Ganesa and Kartika are their sons, both of
whom are endowed with extraordinary strength. Ganesa,
the elder, devotes himself exclusively to meditation
Kartika cares for nothing but weapons, and thinks of
nothing but war.
Siva's courtiers are a band of evil spirits, of whom
Nandi is the chief. His lieutenants are Bringi, Bhima,
and Kadurgita, all of whom have terrible countenances.
Bhairava, Bhima, and Darshana are charged with the
care of the city, which is peopled with various kinds of evil
spirits, horrible to behold, which spread terror everywhere.
They go about naked, and are continually drinking, quar-
relling,
and
is
fighting.
who consumes
intoxicating liquors only, is always
himself to unlimited and shameless
He is clothed in a tiger's skin
excesses of sensuality.
Siva,
drunk.
He abandons
covered with ashes, and his body is entwined with serpents.
Seated on his ox, he rides occasionally on the neighbouring
mountains with his wife Parvati. The demons who form
their escort utter piercing cries, terminating with a shriek
like hit ! kil ! and it is from this that Kailasa takes its name.
The paradise of Kailasa is reserved for the followers of Siva,
the worshippers of the disgusting lingayn.
Vaikuntha.
the paradise of Vishnu, reserved for those
who are specially devoted to the worship of this god. It is
hence
above Kailasa, and occupies a most charming site
Vaikuntha
is
;