The scene of the revelation of Mahanirvana-Tantra is laid in Himalaya, the Abode of Snow, a holy land weighted with the traditions of the Aryan race. Here in these lofty uplands, encircled with everlasting snows, rose the great mountain of the north, the Sapta-Kula-Parvata. Hence the race itself came, and there its early legends have their setting. There are still show at Bhimudiyar the caves where the sons of Pandu and Draupadi rested, as did Rama and his faithful wife at the point where the Kosi joins the Sita in the grove of Asoka trees. In these mountains Munis and Rsis lived. Here also is the Ksetra of Siva Mahadeva, where his spouse Parvati, the daughter of the Mountain King, was born, and where Mother Ganges also has her source. For time immemorial pilgrims have toiled through these mountains to visit the three great shrines at Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. At Kangri, further north, the pilgrims make the parikrama of Mount Kailasa (Kang Rinpoche), where Siva is said to dwell. This nobly towering Peak rises to the north-west of the sacred Manasarowar Lake (Mapham Yum-tso) from amidst the purple ranges of the lower Kangri Mountains. The paradise of Siva is a summerland of both lasting sunshine and cool shade, musical with the song of birds and bright with undying flowers. The air, scented with the sweet fragrance of Mandhara chaplets, resounds with the music and song of celestial singers and players. The Mount is Gana-parvata, thronged with trains of Spirits (devayoni), of which the opening chapter of Mahanirvana-Tantra Speaks.
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