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Mount Kailash
Kailash, South Side View
Elevation	6,638 m (21,778 ft)
Location	China (Tibet)
Range	Trans-Himalayas
Prominence	1,319 m
Coordinates	31°04′00″N, 81°18′45″E

Mount Kailash (officially: Kangrinboqê; Tibetan: Gang Rinpoche, གངས་རིན་པོ་ཆེ།; Wylie: Gangs Rin-po-che; ZWPY: Kangrinboqê; simplified Chinese: 冈仁波齐峰; traditional Chinese: 岡仁波齊峰; pinyin: Gāngrénbōqí Fēng; Hindi कैलाश पर्वत, Kailāśā Parvata) is a peak in the Gangdisê mountains which is part of the Himalayas in Tibet, the source of some of the longest rivers in Asia—the Indus River, the Sutlej River, a tributary of the Indus River, and the Brahmaputra River—and is considered as a sacred place in four religions—Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Bön faith. In Hindu religion, it is considered to be the abode of Lord Shiva. The mountain lies near Lake Manasarowar and Lake Rakshastal in Tibet.

There have been no recorded attempts to climb Mount Kailash; it is considered off limits to climbers in deference to Buddhist and Hindu beliefs. It is the most significant peak in the world that has not seen any known climbing attempts.Other notable peaks that have seen climbing attempts, but no ascents, and are now closed due to religious concerns, include Machhapuchhare and Gangkhar Puensum.

Names

The word Kailāśā means "crystal" in Sanskrit. The Tibetan name for the mountain is Gangs Rin-po-che, meaning "precious jewel of snows". Another local name for the mountain is Tisé (Tibetan: ཏི་སེ་) mountain. In the Jain tradition, the mountain is referred to as Ashtapada.

Religious significance

In Hinduism

An illustration of the Hindu significance of Mount Kailash, depicting the holy family of Shiva, consisting of Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha and Muruga (Kartikeya)

According to Hinduism, Shiva, the destroyer of evil and sorrow, resides at the summit of a legendary mountain named Kailāśā, where he sits in a state of perpetual meditation along with his partner Pārvatī, the daughter of Himalaya. Kuvera, the god of wealth was also said to have his abode on or near the mountain.

This Kailāśā is regarded in many sects of Hinduism as paradise, the ultimate destination of souls and the spiritual center of the world.

Some traditions also aver that the mountain is Shiva\'s linga and Lake Manasarowar below is the yoni of His consort. According to one description in the Vishnu Purana, Mount Kailash is the center of the world, its four faces are made of crystal, ruby, gold, and lapis lazuli. It is the pillar of the world; is 84,000 leagues high; is the center of the world mandala; and is located at the heart of six mountain ranges symbolizing a lotus. The four rivers flowing from Kailash then flow to the four quarters of the world and divide the world into four regions.Allen, Charles. (1982). A Mountain in Tibet, pp. 21-22. André Deutsch. Reprint: 1991. Futura Publications, London. ISBN 0-7088-2411-0.

The largest and most important rock-cut temple, Kailash Temple at Ellora,Maharashtra is named after Mount Kailash. Many of its sculptures and reliefs depict episodes relating to Shiva and Parvati, including the demon Ravana\'s attempt to dislodge them by shaking Mount Kailash..Snelling, John. (1990). The Sacred Mountain: The Complete Guide to Tibet\'s Mount Kailas. 1st edition 1983. Revised and enlarged edition, including: Kailas-Manasarovar Travellers\' Guide. Forwards by H.H. the Dalai Lama of Tibet and Christmas Humphreys, pp. 22-25. East-West Publications, London and The Hague. ISBN 0-85692-173-4.

In Buddhism

Tibetian Thangka depicting Mt. Kailash

The Tantric Buddhists believe that Kailash is the home of the Buddha Demchok (also known as Demchog or Chakrasamvara)[1], who represents supreme bliss.

There are numerous sites in the region associated with Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), whose tantric practices in holy sites around Tibet are credited with finally establishing Buddhism as the main religion of the country in the 7th-8th century CE.Snelling, John. The Sacred Mountain, pp. 39, 33, 35, 225, 280, 353, 362-363, 377-378, . (1990) East-West Publications. London and The Hague. ISBN 0-85692-173-4.

It is said that Milarepa (c. 1052-c. 1135 CE), champion of Tantric Buddhism, arrived in Tibet to challenge Naro Bön-chung, 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. Yet 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 on to the top of nearby mountain, since known as Bönri, bequeathing it to the Bönpo and thereby ensuring continued Bönpo connections with the region.Snelling, John. The Sacred Mountain, pp. 31, 33, 35. (1990) East-West Publications. London and The Hague. ISBN 0-85692-173-4.

In Jainism

The Jains, who refer to Kailash as Mount Ashtapāda, believe the founder of their faith, Rishabhadeva attained Moksha or Nirvana (spiritual liberation) at this place.The World\'s Most Mysterious Places Published by Reader\'s Digest ISBN 0 276 42217 1 pg.85.Snelling, John. (1990). The Sacred Mountain: The Complete Guide to Tibet\'s Mount Kailas. 1st edition 1983. Revised and enlarged edition, including: Kailas-Manasarovar Travellers\' Guide. Forwards by H.H. the Dalai Lama of Tibet and Christmas Humphreys, pp. 25-26. East-West Publications, London and The Hague. ISBN 0-85692-173-4.

In Bön faith

The Bön, a religion which predates Buddhism in Tibet, maintain that the entire mystical region and the nine-story Swastika Mountain are the seat of all Spiritual power. Refer to Tagzig Olmo Lung Ring.

Pilgrimage

Satellite view of Mount Kailash with lakes Manasarowar (right) and Rakshastal in the foreground

Every year, thousands make a pilgrimage to Kailash, following a tradition going back thousands of years. Pilgrims of several religions believe that circumambulating Mount Kailash on foot is a holy ritual that will bring good fortune. The peregrination is made in a clockwise direction by Hindus and Buddhists. Followers of the Jain and Bönpo religions circumambulate the mountain in a counterclockwise direction. The path around Mount Kailash is 52 km (32 mi) long.

Some pilgrims believe that the entire walk around Kailash should be made in a single day. This is not easy. A person in good shape walking fast would take perhaps 15 hours to complete the 52 km trek. Some of the devout do accomplish this feat, little daunted by the uneven terrain, altitude sickness and harsh conditions faced in the process. Indeed, other pilgrims venture a much more demanding regimen, performing body-length prostrations over the entire length of the circumambulation: The pilgrim bends down, kneels, prostrates full-length, makes a mark with his fingers, rises to his knees, prays, and then crawls forward on hands and knees to the mark made by his/her fingers before repeating the process. It requires at least four days of physical endurance to perform the circumambulation while following this regimen. The mountain is located in a particularly remote and inhospitable area of the Tibetan Himalayas. A few modern amenities, such as benches, resting places and refreshment kiosks, exist to aid the pilgrims in their devotions. According to all religions that revere the mountain, setting foot on its slopes is a dire sin. It is claimed that many people who ventured to defy the taboo have died in the process.

Location of Mt Kailash

Following the Chinese army entering Tibet in 1950, and political and border disturbances across the Chinese-Indian boundary, pilgrimage to the legendary abode of Lord Shiva was stopped from 1959 to 1980. Thereafter a limited number of Indian pilgrims have been allowed to visit the place, under the supervision of the Chinese and Indian governments either by a lengthy and hazardous trek over the Himalayan terrain, travel by land from Kathmandu or from Lhasa where flights from Kathmandu are available to Tibet and thereafter travel over the great Tibetan plateau (ranging 10,000 to 16,000 feet) by car. The journey takes four night stops, finally arriving at Tarchen (4600 m).

Original image of Mt. Kailash by Martin Gray, used as the cover art for Throbbing Gristle\'s album Part Two

Walking around the holy mountain (a part of its official park) has to be done on foot or pony; it takes three days of trekking starting from a height of around 15,000 ft to crossing the Dolma pass (19,000 ft) and encamping for two nights en route. First, near the meadow of Dirapuk gompa—2 or 3 km before the pass and second, after crossing the pass and going downhill as far as possible (viewing Gauri Kund in the distance).

Notes

References

Nomachi, Kazuyoshi. Tibet. Boston: Shambhala, 1997.
Thurman, Robert and Tad Wise, Circling the Sacred Mountain: A Spiritual Adventure Through the Himalayas. New York: Bantam, 1999. ISBN 0-553-37850-3 — Tells the story of a Western Buddhist making the trek around Mount Kailash.
Snelling, John. (1990). The Sacred Mountain: The Complete Guide to Tibet\'s Mount Kailas. 1st edition 1983. Revised and enlarged edition, including: Kailas-Manasarovar Travellers\' Guide. Forwards by H.H. the Dalai Lama of Tibet and Christmas Humphreys. East-West Publications, London and The Hague. ISBN 0-85692-173-4.
(Elevation) Chinese Snow Map "Kangrinboqe", published by the Lanzhou Institute of Glaciology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

External links

Going Round In Circles by Tom Carter Magazine travel report about Mount Kailash kora
Suilven is know by British Buddhists as the Mount Kailash of Scotland.
Yoga around Kailash Video and still images illustrating the Pilgrimage route around Mt. Kailash and parts of Lake Manasarovar including the Saga Dawa "full moon festival" celebrating the life of the Buddha.
Kailash Mansarovar Kailash Parikarma and still image of Mount Kailash

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Geography of South Asia

Himalayas