Escaping the influence of illusion: Lord Śiva worships Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa in Ilāvṛta-varṣa (5th Canto #19)

One of the eight sets of mountains surrounding Mount Sumeru, in Ilāvṛta-varṣa, is Kailāsa, located to the south. This is the abode of Lord Śiva. This abode is described in the Fourth Canto, chapter six (in the episode when the demigods go there to apologize to Lord Śiva after having offended him at the sacrifice organized by Daksa), as a paradisiac place, with pristine nature and all natural opulences. In the middle of it, there is a very auspicious place, where Lord Śiva sits under a great banyan tree, which is 100 yojanas high, with its branches spreading over 75 yojanas around. In other words, this tree alone is larger than Great Britain. Despite such a great natural opulence, Lord Śiva is not interested in material enjoyment. He spends his time absorbed in meditation and in philosophical talks with associates such as Kuvera and the four Kumāras. Despite this, his wife, Pārvatī, is very eager to serve him, accompanied by her billions of servants. This abode of Lord Śiva is off-limits for the inhabitants of the other eight varṣas. If any human man inadvertently tries to enter this sacred abode, he is immediately transformed into a woman, as described in the first chapter of the Ninth Canto, in the saga of King Sudyumna. Get full access to Mysteries of the Vedas at www.ccdas.net/subscribe