Sat, May 23rd, 2015 New
Delhi Times
Manasarovar is a fresh water lake
situated in Burang, western Tibet around 940 kilometres from Lhasa
ensconced in Himalayas at 4,590 metres above mean sea level. This
is a relatively high elevation for a large freshwater lake in Tibet
Plateau as most of the lakes of the region are saline. The Lake is
round- shaped with 320 square kilometres surface area;
circumference running to 88 kilometres, depth reaching 300 ft. It
used to be a part of the Sutlej River basin—the easternmost large
tributary of the Indus—but disconnected now due to tectonic shift.
This is the place where Sutlej, Brahmaputra, Indus, and Karnali
rivers have their headwaters. The holy lake is also known as Mapam
Yumco to locals. To the west of Manasarovar is another lake
Rakshadal —locally known as La Ang Kuo — and both are connected by
natural Ganga Chhu channel. Manasarovar overflows into Rakshastal
which is a salt water endorheic lake. The word ‘Manasarovara’, in
Sanskrit language, is a combination of two words— Manas (mind) and
Sarovara (lake) implying mind lake. The legend has it that the Lake
was created first in the mind of the Lord Brahma before its
manifestation on Earth.
Lake Manasarovar is an important
place of pilgrimage for Tibetan Buddhists, Hindus, Jains and Bonpas
—the native pre-Buddhist religion of Tibet. The holy lake, Hindu
scriptures reveal, is purity personified as devotees who bathe or
drink water from the lake are believed to be cleansed of all the
sins committed over even a hundred life times and go to the Abode
of Lord Shiva after death. The lake, in Hindu religious belief, is
supposed to be the summer abode of the Hamsa goose considered to be
an important sacred element in the symbology of the subcontinent,
representing wisdom and beauty. Kora- a circumambulation of the
lake (88 kilometres)- is prescribed by some religion for salvation
and one Kora takes about 4-5 days Buddhists associate the lake with
the legendary Anavatapta lake where Queen Maya is believed to have
conceived Buddha. The lake has a few monasteries on its shores;
ancient Chiu Gompa Monastery built on a steep hill being the most
notable. It looks like being carved right out of the rock. Lord
Buddha is believed to have stayed and meditated near this lake on
several occasions. The Lake is also the subject of the meditative
Tibetan tradition, ‘The Jewel of Tibet’.
Mount Kailash located to the
North-North West of Manasarovar is considered to be the center of
the universe and in combination with Manasarovar constitute a
pilgrimage destination for Buddhist, Hindus and Bonpas who worship
the sacred mountain for various reasons ,hence the often repeated
phrase ‘Kailash Manasarovar Yatra’ The place is replete with
legends most of them pertaining to Buddhist religion. Saga Dawai is
a great Buddhist festival observed to commemorate Shakyamuni
Buddha’s Enlightenment also for releasing living things as monks
and pilgrims flock in thousands to the south face of Mount Kailash.
Legend has it that Buddha was born, became a Buddha and even died
on the 15th day of lunar month. Hindus consider the holy mountain
as tenth throne of Lord Shiva while Buddhists deem it as precious
jewel of snow and BonPo— the ancient religion of Tibet predating
Buddism— regard it as the nine -story Swastika mount which lead to
heaven.
The pilgrims walk and prostrate
along the path as Hindus and Buddhists believe that
circumambulation of Kailash and Astapada on the 52 km stretch
cleanses one of his sins. Jains revere Kailash- Manasarovar as
Rishabananda—the first Tirthankara and founder of Jain faith—
attained spiritual liberation at Kailash heights. Lake
Manasarovar’s proximity to the sources of four of the greatest
rivers of Asia, namely the Brahmaputra, Karnali, Indus and Sutlej
makes the holy lake an axial point which the pilgrims from India,
Nepal, Tibet and neighbouring countries have thronged to for
thousands of years. Kailash Manasarovar belt is a great pilgrimage
centre, attracting old faithful of all religions be it Buddhists,
Hindus, Bonpas. It is also frequented by non believers, atheists
and nature lovers. Now it is time that Manasarovar enters the manas
(mind, imagination) of the youth of India and dwells there
permanently. This holy place our past generations longed to visit
is under Chinese occupation for over five decades now. Forget
politics a, youth should be emotionally and culturally integrated
with this place. Can the place be reclaimed culturally by the
youth? Such is the attraction of this idyllic Himalayan abode that
in social media some say they ‘don’t want to die before visiting
this place’ whereas others reiterate ‘surely love to do this once
in my life time’. Those who have visited the place claim that above
statements are, at their best, understatements.
Get enrolled for a visit to
Manasarovar this summer. Visit the place which is simply out of
this world for its sheer natural beauty. If you are religious,
better. Following the Chinese Invasion of Tibet, the region was
closed to foreign pilgrims between 1959 and 1980. After the 1980s
it has again become a part of the Indian pilgrim trail. Pilgrimage
tours are organized regularly, especially from India, the most
famous of which is the Kailash Manas Sarovar Yatra which takes
place every year. Traditionally Indian pilgrims travelled to these
two holy places through Uttarakhand route which used to be arduous
and 22 day long. Recent arrangement with China has opened up the
route through Nepal which will be of 12 days duration and this year
will be the first year of the new route. There are various packages
available by helicopter service ranging from to seven to fifteen
days. I wish could visit Manasarovar. But alas, with arthritic knee
in advancing age I cannot do Kara (circumambulation) at this stage
of life. Would you like to repent 20-30 years down the line, the
way I do now. I hope none of you does so. Hence the urgency. Hey,
whom are you waiting for? Just get up and get going. Best of
journey.