Everything about Mount Kailas totally explained
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Mount Kailash (Devanagri: कैलाश पर्वत)(
Kailāśā Parvata) is a peak in the Gangdisê mountains which is part of the
Himalayas in
Tibet, the
source of some of the longest
rivers in Asia—the
Indus River, the
Sutlej River, a tributary of the
Indus River, and the
Brahmaputra River—and is considered as a sacred place in four
religions—
Hinduism,
Buddhism,
Jainism and
Bön faith. In Hindu religion, it's considered to be the abode of Lord
Shiva. The mountain lies near
Lake Manasarowar and
Lake Rakshastal in Tibet.
There have been no recorded attempts to climb Mount Kailash; it's considered off limits to climbers in deference to Buddhist and Hindu beliefs. It is the most significant peak in the world that hasn't seen any known climbing attempts.
Names
The word
Kailāśā means "crystal" in
Sanskrit. The Tibetan name for the mountain is
Gangs Rin-po-che, meaning "precious jewel of snows". Another local name for the mountain is
Tisé mountain. In the
Jain tradition, the mountain is referred to as
Ashtapada.
Religious significance
In Hinduism
According to
Hinduism,
Shiva, the destroyer of evil and sorrow, resides at the summit of a legendary mountain named
Kailāśā, where he sits in a state of perpetual meditation along with his partner
Pārvatī, the daughter of
Himalaya. Kubera, the god of wealth was also said to have his abode on or near the mountain.
This Kailāśā is regarded in many sects of Hinduism as paradise, the ultimate destination of souls and the spiritual center of the world.
Some traditions also aver that the mountain is Shiva's
linga and
Lake Manasarowar below is the
yoni of His consort. According to one description in the
Vishnu Purana, Mount Kailash is the
center of the world, its four faces are made of
crystal,
ruby,
gold, and
lapis lazuli. It is the pillar of the world; is 84,000
leagues high; is the center of the world
mandala; and is located at the heart of six mountain ranges symbolizing a
lotus. The four rivers flowing from Kailash then flow to the four quarters of the world and divide the world into four regions.
The largest and most important rock-cut temple,
Kailash Temple at
Ellora,
Maharashtra is named after Mount Kailash. Many of its sculptures and reliefs depict episodes relating to Shiva and Parvati, including the demon
Ravana's attempt to dislodge them by shaking Mount Kailash.
In Buddhism
The
Tantric Buddhists believe that Kailash is the home of the Buddha
Demchok (also known as Demchog or
Chakrasamvara)
(External Link
), who represents supreme bliss.
There are numerous sites in the region associated with
Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), whose
tantric practices in holy sites around Tibet are credited with finally establishing Buddhism as the main religion of the country in the 7th-8th century CE.
It is said that
Milarepa (c. 1052-c. 1135 CE), champion of Tantric Buddhism, arrived in Tibet to challenge Naro Bön-chung, champion of the
Bön religion of Tibet. The two magicians engaged in a terrifying sorcerers' battle, but neither was able to gain a decisive advantage. Finally, it was agreed that whoever could reach the summit of Kailash most rapidly would be the victor. While Naro Bön-chung sat on a magic
drum and soared up the slope, Milarepa's followers were dumbfounded to see him sitting still and meditating. Yet when Naro Bön-chung was nearly at the top, Milarepa suddenly moved into action and overtook him by riding on the
rays of the sun, thus winning the contest. He did, however, fling a handful of snow on to the top of nearby mountain, since known as Bönri, bequeathing it to the Bönpo and thereby ensuring continued Bönpo connections with the region.
In Jainism
The
Jains, who refer to Kailash as Mount Ashtapāda, believe the founder of their faith,
Rishabhadeva attained
Moksha or
Nirvana (spiritual liberation) at this place.
In Bön faith
The
Bön, a religion which predates Buddhism in Tibet, maintain that the entire mystical region and the nine-story
Swastika Mountain are the seat of all Spiritual power. Refer to
Tagzig Olmo Lung Ring.
Pilgrimage
Every year, thousands make a
pilgrimage to Kailash, following a tradition going back thousands of years.
Pilgrims of several religions believe that circumambulating Mount Kailash on foot is a holy ritual that will bring good fortune. The peregrination is made in a clockwise direction by Hindus and Buddhists. Followers of the Jain and
Bönpo religions circumambulate the mountain in a counterclockwise direction. The path around Mount Kailash is 52 km (32 mi) long.
Some pilgrims believe that the entire walk around Kailash should be made in a single day. This isn't easy. A person in good shape walking fast would take perhaps 15 hours to complete the 52 km trek. Some of the devout do accomplish this feat, little daunted by the uneven terrain,
altitude sickness and harsh conditions faced in the process. Indeed, other pilgrims venture a much more demanding regimen, performing body-length prostrations over the entire length of the circumambulation: The pilgrim bends down, kneels, prostrates full-length, makes a mark with his fingers, rises to his knees, prays, and then crawls forward on hands and knees to the mark made by his/her fingers before repeating the process. It requires at least four days of physical endurance to perform the circumambulation while following this regimen. The mountain is located in a particularly remote and inhospitable area of the Tibetan Himalayas. A few modern amenities, such as benches, resting places and refreshment kiosks, exist to aid the pilgrims in their devotions. According to all religions that revere the mountain, setting foot on its slopes is a dire sin. It is claimed that many people who ventured to defy the taboo have died in the process.
Following the Chinese army entering Tibet in
1950, and political and border disturbances across the Chinese-Indian boundary, pilgrimage to the legendary abode of Lord Shiva was stopped from 1959 to 1980. Thereafter a limited number of Indian pilgrims have been allowed to visit the place, under the supervision of the Chinese and Indian governments either by a lengthy and hazardous trek over the Himalayan terrain, travel by land from Kathmandu or from Lhasa where flights from Kathmandu are available to Tibet and thereafter travel over the great Tibetan plateau (ranging 10,000 to 16,000 feet) by car. The journey takes four night stops, finally arriving at
Tarchen (4600 m).
Walking around the holy mountain (a part of its official park) has to be done on foot or pony; it takes three days of trekking starting from a height of around 15,000 ft to crossing the Dolma pass (19,000 ft) and encamping for two nights en route. First, near the meadow of Dirapuk gompa—2 or 3 km before the pass and second, after crossing the pass and going downhill as far as possible (viewing Gauri Kund in the distance).
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