Mount Kailash is a peak in the Gangdise mountains, a part of western Himalaya in Tibet. It lies near the source of some of the longest rivers in Asia: The Brahmaputra river which flows in Northeastern India and then to Bangladesh, the Indus river, the Karnali River (a tributary of the Ganges River and the Sutlej River (a major tributary of Indus river). It is considered a sacred place for four religion: Tibetan Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, and Bön.
The Name Kailash derives from Sanskrit word Kailas. Which means “crystal.” The Tibetan name of the mountain is Gang Rin Po Che; Gang means Snow peak and Rin Po Che means “precious one” so the combined term can be translated “precious jewel of snows.” Another local name for the mountain is Tisé mountain, which derives from Ti-Tse in the Zhang-Zhung language, meaning “water peak” or “river peak”, connoting the mountain’s status as the source of the mythical Lion, Horse, Peacock and Elephant Rivers, and in fact, the Indus, Yarlung Tsangpo/Dihang/Brahmaputra, Karnali and Sutlej all begin in the Kailash-Lake Manasarovar region.
Our Other pages about The religious significance of Mount Kailash
Mount Kailash in Hinduism
According to the Hinduism, destroyer of evil and sorrow, Lord Shiva sits in the state of perpetual meditation along with his wife Parvati at the summit of the legendary peak named Kailasa.
In Vishnu Purana, it states a mountain that has a four side made of crystal, gold, ruby and lapis lazuli. It’s a pillar of a world and is located at the heart of six mountain range symbolizing a lotus.
Mount Kailash in Buddhism
According to Tantric Buddhism, Kailash is the resident of the Buddha Demchok, also known as Chakrasamvara, who represents supreme bliss.
There is numerous site in the region associated with Guru Padmasambhava. Who has practice Tantric in holy place around Tibet. And he finally establishes Buddhism as the main religion of Tibet in the 8th century.
It is said that Milarepa, the champion of Tantric, arrive in the region to challenge Naro Bön-Chung, the 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. 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 onto the top of a nearby mountain, since known as Bönri, bequeathing it to the Bönpo and thereby ensuring continued Bönpo connections with the region.
Mount Kailash in Bön Religion
According to Tantric Buddhism, Kailash is the resident of the Buddha Demchok, also known as Chakrasamvara, who represents supreme bliss.
There is numerous site in the region associated with Guru Padmasambhava. Who has practice Tantric in holy place around Tibet. And he finally establishes Buddhism as the main religion of Tibet in the 8th century.
It is said that Milarepa, the champion of Tantric, arrive in the region to challenge Naro Bön-Chung, the 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. 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 onto the top of a nearby mountain, since known as Bönri, bequeathing it to the Bönpo and thereby ensuring continued Bönpo connections with the region.
Mount Kailash in Jainism
In Jainism, Kailash is also known as Mount Ashtapada and is the site where the first Jain Tirthankara, Rishabhadeva, attained Nirvana/moksa(liberation). The authenticity of Mount Kailash being Mount Ashtapada is highly debated
Kailash Pilgrimage
Every year thousands of Hindus, Buddhist, and other believers would come to visit the Mount Kailash for the Mount Kailash pilgrimage. We do organize the Kailash yatra for NRI’s and other travelers besides Indian Nationals.
Kailash Yatra for NRI’s
For Non-residential Indian, how holds the passport from their host country any travel agency in Lhasa can help you arrange your Kailash Yatra. But there will be the little adjustment you will have to make about the food if the group is small. For the more significant group, we can arrange a cook train in cooking Indian dishes, and we can also organize Yatra for any number of people.
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