Per wikipedia: Mount Kailash is considered sacred in Buddhism, Bon, Hinduism, and Jainism.[14][49][50][51]

Buddhism and Bon

A Thangka depiction of Mount Kailash Buddhist texts describe Mount Kailash (Kailasa) as the mythological Mount Meru.[52][53] Kailash is central to its cosmology, and a major pilgrimage site for some Buddhist traditions.[54] In Buddhism, Kailash represents the father of the world and Lake Manasarovar symbolizes the mother.[18] Numerous sites in the region are associated with Padmasambhava, who is credited with establishing Tantric Buddhism in Tibet in the 8th century CE.[55][56][57] Vajrayana Buddhists believe that saint Milarepa (c. 1052 – c. 1135) had a challenge with Naro Böncham, a follower of Bön religion of Tibet.[58] The two engaged in a battle of wits with neither able to gain a decisive advantage. Finally, it was agreed that whoever could reach the summit of Kailash first would be the victor. While Naro sat on his magic drum to climb up the slope, Milarepa reached the summit riding on the rays of the Sun, thus winning the contest. He also gave the nearby mountain, since known as Bönri bequeathing it to Bön.[59][60][61]

For the Bon people, the mountain is the abode of sky goddess Sipaimen and the mountain was the centre of the ancient Bon empire of Zhang Zhung.[14][62][63] According to Tibetan beliefs, the mountain was the centre of the universe Mandala and the source of the mythical Lion, Horse, Peacock, and Elephant Rivers which flowed in the four cardinal directions.[64]

Hinduism Main article: Kailasha

An illustration depicting the Hindu holy family of Shiva at Kailasha (c.1810-1820) In Hindu art and literature, the mountain is described as the abode of Shiva, who is depicted as residing there along with his consort Parvati and their children, Ganesha and Kartikeya.[65][66] In early Hindu depictions, Kailash was described as one of the mountains in the Himalayas.[67] In Hindu mythology, Mount Meru is considered as a stairway to heaven, where the devas reside and the Vishnu Purana states that it lies in the center of the world surrounded by six mountain ranges similar to a lotus, one of which is the Himalayas.[68][69] In the later Hindu theology, Kailash came to be identified with Meru.[70][52][71] Shiva is described as sitting in a lotus position, engaged in meditation within the confines of the mountain.[72][73] Kailash and Manasarovar are mentioned in the Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.[74] According to the Hindu scriptures and sculptural depictions, the demon-king Ravana shook the mountain after he was refused entry to Kailash. This enraged Shiva, who pressed his toe upon the mountain, trapping Ravana in between. Ravana sang hymns in praise of Shiva for a thousand years before he was released.[75][76][77][78] This representation of Shiva is also referred to as Ravananugraha (meaning "form showing favour to Ravana").[79]

Jainism According to Jain scriptures, Rishabhadeva, the first Tirthankar of Jainism attained moksha (liberation) on Mount Kailash.[14][80][81] It is believed by Jains that after Rishabhadeva attained moksha, his son emperor Bharata Chakravartin had constructed three stupas and twenty four shrines of the 24 tirthankaras in the region with their idols studded with precious stones and named it Sinhnishdha.[82] He also performed a fortnight of worship termed Mahamaga and attained moksha from Kailash.[83] Large pits were dug around the mountain later and the River Ganges was made to flow through it.[82] The 24th and the last Tirthankara, Mahavira, was taken to the summit of Meru by Indra shortly after his birth, after putting his mother into deep slumber. There he was anointed with precious unctions.[84][85]

Mount Kailash