Maya tells Arjuna about a place in the north where the Danava king, Virshaparva has left various gems, stones and minerals which Maya plans to use for the Grand Palace. He tells that he will bring those goods from the lake and also bring along with them, a conch shell called Devadutta for Arjuna and a club or mace for Bhima.
The place described by Maya is explained as a lake called Vindu, north of the Kailasha mountain near a mountain called Hiranyashringa which is near or within the Mainaka mountains. This place is also described as a place where Indra and Krishna performed sacrifices and where Mahadeva resides. It is also said that Nara, Narayana, Brahma, Yama and Sthanu perform sacrifices there. It is also said that Krishna left various treasures there after his sacrifice.
Maya brings those materials from there as promised and builds the palace in a period of fourteen months. A description of the palace is provided next along with its wonders, especially the tank into which many visitors fall mistaking it for solid ground.
There are two lakes north of Mount Kailash, which fit the location of Lake Vindu. The first is Lake Dugei Co, just north of the Kailash peak, a small, narrow lake wedged between the mountains. The second candidate is Lake Xiasa'er Co, further north set in a wide valley within the Kailash Range. The size of the lake and the proximity to a high peak which is just west of the Lake work in its favor.
What are the materials that Maya brings from Lake Vindu is open to debate. There is a description of "golden columns" and stones inset with pearl and even a crystal staircase. The mace for Bhima however, is described as huge with golden knobs. Maya could have felt that the weight and size of the mace would befit Bhima. The conch shell seems to have been a gift for Arjuna, the only thing that Maya actually gifts to his savior. What is interesting is that Maya says that he will bring all those things "if (they are) yet existing", which could mean that he only knew of a horde in that location and it was by no means bequeathed to him. Also the horde may have been known to others, especially among the Daityas and Danavas.
There is a contradiction where Vaishampayana says that Krishna performed a long sacrifice and left golden columns and garlands at Lake Vindu. Krishna, if at all he did indeed perform sacrifices at Lake Vindu, could not have possibly done so before the events of Khadava. The timeline of his life completely negate a long period of absence from the lands of Aryavarta. It may have been an embellishment added by Vaishampayana or later authors to highlight the image of Krishna as a god.
A description of the palace says that it contained "golden walls and archways." These could have been gilded columns and gilded plates on the wall. The lighting of the palace was also magnificient as the palace is compared to other human and divine mansions. "Eight thousand kinkaras" are supposed to have guarded the palace. These could have been actual rakshasa soldiers though, the probability is minute. The kinkaras may have been referring to the sculpted columns carved in the shape of gigantic rakshasas.
The tank or pool within the palace is much talked about as an object of wonder. Crystal stairs are supposed to lead down to it and at it was probably approached by a walkway of marble with inlaid pearls. The possibility of glass being used cannot be rules out although the chance of that having happened is very low. The pool may also have been lined with stone or tile as Vaishampayana says that there was "no mud" at the bottom of the pool. The stone lined pool combined with slippery stone surfaces such as marble might have contributed to people slipping and falling into it. Also, this chapter prooves that Duryodhana was by no means the only one to fall into the lake, although he might have been laughed at by Draupadi.
No comments:
Post a Comment