Mt. Kailash is the revered Mansarovar Lake, the eastern lake of two in the region.
At an altitude of 14,950 ft above sea level, Mansarovar is the highest body
of fresh water in the world. It is a remarkably beautiful site, with waters
that glisten a clear blue near the shores and a deep emerald green in the center.
Pilgrims flock to this lake to make offerings to their ancestors and for a holy
ceremonial bath. The Hindu scriptures state that those who take a dip at Mansarovar
and complete the parikrama around Mt. Kailashh are absolved of their sins, and
liberated from the cycle of birth and death, and are ultimately united with
Shiva.
Hindus believe the lake was created by Lord Brahma, the God of creation. Legend
states that Lord Brahma's sons, who were holy men, spent twelve years performing
austerities on the land at Mansarovar. But as they lacked a sufficient site
to perform their rites, they appealed to their divine Father for help. In response,
Lord Brahma created the sacred lake. Additionally, according to traditional
belief there is a giant jambu tree that grows at the lake's center. This tree's
fruit is believed to relieve all human ailments-both mental and physical.
Buddhists associate Mansarovar with the legendary Anotatta Lake, where Buddha's
mother, Queen Maya, conceived him. Legend says that the Queen, while in a dream
state, was transported to Mansarovar by the Gods and bathed in the lake's holy
waters. When her body was purified and her womb thus ready to receive Buddha,
he appeared from the direction of Kailash riding a white elephant.
Given its mythical importance to Buddhists, a ring of eight Buddhist monasteries
once surrounded the lake, which was visualized as the Wheel of Life. A complete
circumambulation of the lake, passing all eight monasteries, represented a symbolic
turn of the Wheel. Through this act, a pilgrim would accumulate a variety of
blessings and benefits. The voyage around the lake is approximately 64 miles,
and usually takes pilgrims between two to four days.
