Kṛshṇa at Kailāsa

The account that follows tells what happened after Bhagavān Kṛshṇa praised Bhagavān Śiva in a stotra at the āśrama of Upamanyu. Bhagavān Śiva took Kṛshṇa by the hand and led him to Kailāsa, where Kṛshṇa stayed for a long time. The account is in the twenty-sixth chapter of the Pūrvārdha of the Kūrma Mahā Purāṇa. The chapter is called Śaṅkara-kīrti-varṇana, “the telling of the glory of Śaṅkara”. It continues the account that begins in Chapter 25.

Kṛshṇa comes to Kailāsa

After the darśana and the stotra at Upamanyu’s āśrama, Bhagavān Śaṅkara walked to Kailāsa. He was joined by Pārvatī, the gaṇas, the devas and the ṛshis. Kailāsa shines like gold, and it is the crown peak of Meru. Bhagavān Śaṅkara entered it with Kṛshṇa.

The people who live on Kailāsa saw Kṛshṇa with four arms. His colour was that of a dark cloud. He wore a crown (kirīṭa) and carried the Śārṅga bow. He bore the mark of Śrīvatsa and wore yellow clothes. Lakshmī shone on his chest. They worshipped him just as they worshipped Bhagavān Śaṅkara, the Devadeva.

Kailāsa and the play of Kṛshṇa

Kailāsa is the city of Bhagavān Śiva. Siddhas, gandharvas, yakshas, nāgas, rākshasas and all the devas serve Parameśvara there for ever. Kṛshṇa walked with great joy among its mountains and caves.

The chief gandharva maidens, the apsarasas, the divine women and the finest of the celestial women all looked at the beautiful son of Devakī with wonder. Kāma (desire) took hold of their minds. Some sang songs in the manoharamāla style. Others danced before him. Some kissed his lotus face in their love. Some put their own ornaments on him, and others covered his neck with theirs. Groups of women, moved by his yogamāyā, gathered around him. By his māyā, Kṛshṇa took many forms to fulfil all their wishes. In this way he walked for a long time in the city of Bhagavān Śiva and held the world spellbound by his māyā, while he lived in the home of the master of the universe.

The call from Dvārakā

After a long time the people of Dvārakā became worried because Kṛshṇa was away. Garuḍa was sent first, but he could not find Kṛshṇa at Upamanyu’s āśrama. He went back to Dvārakā. There rākshasas attacked the city, and Garuḍa killed them and kept Dvārakā safe.

Then the ṛshi Nārada went to Kailāsa and saw Kṛshṇa there. He went to Dvārakā and reported: “Bhagavān Kṛshṇa is now at Kailāsa, in the manner of a great yogīśvara (master of yoga).” On hearing this, Garuḍa flew at once to Kailāsa. He found Kṛshṇa seated in a palace of jewels near Bhagavān Śaṅkara, the Devadeva. Garuḍa bowed before Bhagavān Śiva, the auspicious one, and told him of the unrest in Dvārakā.

Kṛshṇa leaves Kailāsa

Kṛshṇa bowed before Bhagavān Śaṅkara, who is Nīlalohita. He asked leave, and Bhagavān Śaṅkara gave it. The divine women of Kailāsa and the gandharvas followed him in sorrow.

Kṛshṇa, who carries the śaṅkha, the cakra and the gadā and is a great yogīśvara, rode on Garuḍa. Gandharvas, apsarasas and celestial beings went with him as he left. The women of Kailāsa stood and watched him go. Without him Kailāsa shone like a night without a moon.

The people of Dvārakā heard that he was coming back. They decked the divine city with tall flagpoles, garlands and banners. When Govinda entered the city, the young men sang auspicious songs. Women danced on the rooftops and showered flowers on him. Kṛshṇa was welcomed and praised on every side and received with blessings. He took his seat on his supreme āsana, and his wives shone around him.

What the Kūrma Purāṇa says of Kṛshṇa and Bhagavān Śiva

In the Kūrma Purāṇa, Bhagavān Śiva declares Kṛshṇa to be his own best mūrti-bheda (form). Pārvatī confirms that Kṛshṇa is Nārāyaṇa, Purushottama and Sarvātmaka. The people of Kailāsa honour Kṛshṇa as they would honour Bhagavān Śiva himself. The stotra that Kṛshṇa offered at Upamanyu’s āśrama comes before this account in the Kūrma Purāṇa.

Sources

• Kūrma Mahā Purāṇa, Pūrvārdha, Chapters 25 and 26 (Chapter 26 is called Śaṅkara-kīrti-varṇana)