The Spiritual and Religious Significance of Kailash Mansarovar
“Kailash is the axis around which the world turns, the sacred peak where the physical and spiritual worlds meet. To reach it is to return to one’s true self.”
— His Holiness the Dalai Lama
As said by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Kailash Mansarovar is more than a physical structure, it is the center of all the divine energies. It is situated in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, the landscape itself brings a sense of peace far from the materialistic world where the pilgrims can align with the divine energy.
Mount Kailash
Mount Kailash is often referred as the “Axis Mundi”, the center of the universe (junction of heaven and earth) according to Hindus, because they believe Mount Kailash is the home of Lord Shiva. As written in the ancient scriptures, it is said that Lord Shiva abodes at the top of the mountain with Goddess Parvati and Lord Ganesha. Mount Kailash has not been conquered for centuries as its sacredness and mystery makes it a taboo to even consider summiting this mountain. Any attempts to summit is considered disrespectful to the divine.
People around the world do not come here for the view of the mountain only. Mount Kailash, being the most sacred peak, devotees believe that even a single glance of this mountain can wash away the sins followed by performing holy ritual later ultimately attaining eternal peace and purification of soul.
Lake Mansarovar
At the base of the mystical peak, there is Lake Mansarovar which is said to be created by Lord Brahma, the creator of god according to the Hindus. The lake is one of the highest lake in the world, naturally the surrounding is peaceful and along with the words in ancient scripture the power of spiritual awakening is even more than normal in this region.
The base of Mount Kailash resides two lakes: Lake Mansarovar and Rakshas Taal. Rakshas Taal is the opposite, contrasting Lake Mansarovar. If Lake Mansarovar is associated with purity, Rakshas Taal is darker and mysterious. It is said that this lake is the kingdom of demon king Ravana. This Taal is less crowded as people believe it as inauspicious to visit. It shows the balance of good and evil in all the worlds whether physical or spiritual.
However, Pilgrims strongly believe dipping in Lake Mansarovar cleanses their soul and sins to start anew spiritual journey, relieving them from worldly suffering.
Charansparsha: The Act of Reverence and Surrender
"By worshiping the feet of a true devotee, a soul can attain the highest spiritual elevation. The ego must be surrendered for the divine grace to manifest." – Bhagavad Gita 9.22 Charansparsha is composed of two words; “charan” which means feet and “sparsha” which means to touch, together it literally means to touch feet. It is a spiritual practice in Hinduism and other religions to surrender one’s ego to higher divine energy for blessings. It is believed that touching the feet of the deity or holy site brings peace and progress of one’s journey in spirituality. “The feet of the Divine are the path to liberation. To touch them is to realize the presence of the Almighty in all things.” — Guru Nanak, Guru Granth Sahib Kailash Mansarovar is one of the most spiritually charged location thus Charansparsha by the pilgrims is justifiable as it brings inner peace and bring them closer to liberation. After reaching the base of the mountain pilgrims perform this ritual as the act of deep respect and devotion towards the divine forces. The act of Charansparsha helps them be a part of the universal energy itself and absorb the energy of the divine. This act also symbolizes the insignificance of an individual in the grand universe and surrendering themselves to the divine.
The Kailash Kora: A Sacred Circumambulation
“Whoever performs the pilgrimage to Mount Kailash, by walking around the mountain and offering prayer with a pure heart, shall be blessed with eternal peace and liberation from the cycle of birth and death.”
—Vishnu Purana, Chapter 1
A significant part of the pilgrimage is Kailash Kora which is a sacred walk around the base of the mountain. It is approximately 52 km. The practice of Kailash Kora is an old tradition borne from the ancient scripture where every step you take is believed to bring you close to Lord Shiva. As mentioned earlier, it is a physically demanding pilgrimage. The terrains are not easy, the high altitude also makes it difficult for the pilgrims. Nevertheless the results and the sense of relief after the completion of Kora is believed to be beyond anything.
This practice does not have any religious limits, Devotees of various religions like Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Bon religions perform Kora to purify their souls and be closer to the divine energy. The act of Kora because of its difficulty is said to represent life in general which is filled with hardships and challenges. The completion of circumambulation even once in a lifetime can bring a sense of freedom and peace.
Religious Significance across Faiths
Hinduism
According to Hinduism, Mount Kailash is where Lord Shiva resides and meditates at the top of the mountain. This makes pilgrims want to perform Kora and perform rituals at Lake Mansarovar to respect the divine and lead to liberation from the cycle of life and death.
Buddhism
“The divine energy of Kailash is such that it purifies the soul and elevates the spirit of every devotee who approaches with sincerity, humility, and devotion.”
— Lama Zopa Rinpoche (Buddhist Teacher)
In Buddhism, Mount Kailash is home of Demchok, also known as Chakrasamvara which is the deity symbolizing bliss and spiritual journey. Like Hindus, it is believed that if we walk around the mountains in a clockwise direction diminishes negative karma. About Lake Mansarovar, Buddhists believes that it can purifies one’s soul and body after dipping on it.
Jainism
“The Tirthankaras, who attained perfect enlightenment, walked on the same ground as Mount Kailash. To approach this sacred site with devotion is to align oneself with the divine energy of all the liberated souls.”
— Jain Agamas
The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra: A Life-Altering Experience
This pilgrimage has harsh terrains, cold temperature, and high chances of altitude sickness because the Kora ascends to 18,000 feet. It is undeniable that Kailash Mansarovar is difficult both physically or mentally but the pilgrimage is more than just walks, it is a spiritual journey that leaves a lasting impact to anyone who took part in the journey. It requires physical endurance due to harsh weather and high altitudes. These challenges make the pilgrimage rewarding and transformative experience.
It can be said that this pilgrimage is a path of self-discovery and reflection of oneself, challenges faced in life itself, as well as in the journey with obstacles, temptation. Within the journey spiritual growth comes by overcoming these obstacles. The main symbols of the pilgrimage, Kora and Charansparsha are symbolic as it requires surrender, humility and devotion.
Conclusion
Beyond the journey with bags and walks, the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage is a journey of spiritual transformation. Throughout the journey, pilgrims learn about humility and surrender by the practice of Charansparsha. They get one step closer to liberation and peacefulness with each step by seeking blessings from the divine. The challenges faced by pilgrims only transcend them from the material world and align with something eternal. Whether through the Kora, rituals at Lake Mansarovar, or acts of Charansparsha, the journey encapsulates the essence of devotion and spiritual awakening, leaving a lasting impact on all who undertake it.
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