The holy Mt. Kailash, a mystical power in people's minds, has been a symbol of relief from suffering to generation after generation of believers. The region is revered by four different religions as one of the most sacred pilgrimage destinations in Asia. Hindus regard Mt. Kailash as the earthly manifestation of Mt. Meru-their spiritual center of the universe, described in the ancient texts as a fantastic "World Pillar," 139,440 km high around which everything else revolves, its roots in the lowest hell and its top kissing the heavens. On the summit sits Lord Shiva who shares this lofty peak with his consort Parvati, daughter of Himalayas. For the Jains, Mt. Kailash is acclaimed as a site where their first prophet achieved enlightenment. Buddhist cosmography identifies Mt. Kailash with the mighty Mount Sumeru, the central peak of the world. "The Father Mountain" represents the means to enlightenment and Lake Mansarovar, "the Mother Principle," represents Buddhist transcendent consciousness. And in the ancient Bon religion of Tibet, Kailash was the sacred nine storey Swastika Mountain, upon the Bonpo found Shenrab alighted from heaven.
Set amidst Mount Kailash and Mount Gurla Mandhata at height of 14,950 ft. above sea level is Mansarovar Lake, the highest freshwater body in the world. The lake stretches majestically over Tibetan Plateau with a circumference of about 88 km and covers an area of 320 km. It was created to show the omnipotence of Brahma's mind (manas). To bathe in the lake and to drink its waters is to be delivered to the paradise of Brahma and to cleanse the sins of a hundred lifetimes. Lying as they do beneath the symbolic temple of Kailash, Mansarovar and Rakshash Tal represent the water tanks present at the entrance to every Hindu temple. The round shape of the former is like the sun and the curved outline of Rakshash Tal symbolizes the moon. These ideas are expressed in the names of the two lakes, Mansarovar being associated with 'light' and Rakshash Tal meaning the 'lake of the demons'. To Hindus Mansarovar symbolizes the receptive, female aspect of creation, the yoni, while Mt Kailash symbolizes the active male aspect, the lingam.
According to legend one Khora around Kailash cleans away the sins of a lifetime; 10 circuits cleans away the sins of one Kalpa (era) and 108 khoras secure Nirvana in this life. Making one circuit around the mountain in the Year of the Horse (2002) is equal to 13 circuits in any other year. It is considered the most auspicious year for the Kailash pilgrimage, because that was when it became a power place. After making 13 khoras one is allowed to make the inner circumambulation. In this way the more Khoras you make, the cleaner and more pure you become. As you become more pure, you are allowed closer to the core of Kailash and nearer to nirvana/heaven. This is why the paths of holy Mt. Kailash are an endless stream of pilgrims throughout the summer months.
