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Kailash Within

By Staff

Mount Kailash, Saint Appar
A story as narrated by Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi.

Appar, one among the 64 Nayanmars once embarked on a journey to Kailash when old age and infirmities had set in. He thus proceeded with his journey towards His beloved Lord with matted locks adorned with the crescent whose cool light complimented the silvery white sparkles of snow of His abode on the highest peak. As the old devotee wobbled on with an unyielding attitude to his embarkment, he met another old man en route who learned of His wish to visit Kailash.

The old man deterred Appar of His venture pointing out the difficulties in the course of his journey. But the unrelenting Appar, stuck to his conviction and was ready to stake his life if need be so. The old man then instructed him to take a dip in a nearby tank. Appar did so as instructed and as he emerged out from the depths of the water, he found himself in Kailash then and there.

The place where Kailash arose is Thiruvaiyar, nine miles from Tanjore, Tamil Nadu of South India. Ramana Maharshi clarified the whereabouts of Kailash that it was within oneself. Had it been outside the realm of the mind, Thiruvaiyar would have been Kailash for one and all. Since it was within, Appar alone could identify it. The veracity of the experience was true from Appar's standpoint. Everything is within and nothing without.

Story first published: Monday, December 22, 2008, 16:20 [IST]