Swamiji's Mansarovar - Kailash Trip

Swamiji & Ammaji in the holy month of July had the blessed opportunity to visit Mansarovar-Kailash Parvat in Tibet which is situated in the border of Nepal.

Kailash is considered the holiest mountain on earth by a number of faiths and religions. Through millennia, monks, yogis and pilgrims from all over the world have braved unimaginable hardships to reach this abode of Gods. Its exceptional isolation and the peculiar contours of black granite that give it the appearance of a Shivalinga, have caused Kailash to be venerated as a place that is both representative and emblematic of Shiva. For Hindus, a journey to Kailash is considered the ultimate yatra due to both the difficulty of reaching it and the level of sanctity attached to it. Lake Mansarovar is a majestic Gift of Lord Braham - the Creator God which came straight from his Mind i.e. Manas in Sanskrit so as per the legend name is Mansarovar.

The sprawling lake lies below Holy Kailsah the abode of Lord Shiva & Godess Parvati in Western Tibet 4560 meters above sea level with an approximate area of 320 sq. kms. It is indeed one of the holiest & most revered lake in the Universe for Hindus/Jains & Buddhist alike.
The circumference of Lake is 90 Kms. & takes approximately Three Hours to cover the Parikrama (circumambulation) by 4WD Jeeps.

First Sight of the Holy Lake takes away all the hardships & sufferings of the pilgrims & revives the mind & soul. A ritual bath at Mansarovar is considered to help attain Moksha and a drink of its water relinquishes the sins of a lifetime. No wonder Munis, Rishis from yore sung its praises and great seers from the past have circumbulated this holy mountain and the lake. For thousands of years pilgrims have journeyed to the Kailash-Manasarovar bearing immense hardships to pay obeisance to the mystery and eternal force embodied in the aura of the mystifying mountain. It is also as much an inward journey. The practise continues even today.

Proceeding downwards from Dolma - La (Dolma Pass) at a steep descent is Gouri Kund at 5608 m, also called the Lake of compassion. As referred to the Shiva Purana, this is the setting for the legend of Parvati and how Ganesh acquired his elephant head bathing in the emerald waters of the kund.

Swamiji claims this trip has been one of his toughest yatra till now as climbing to such altitudes with very less oxygen makes it very difficult but also had the blessing to sight a vision of Kailash Parvat wherein reside Lord Shiva & Godess Parvati. It was a 16 days yatra wherein he visited Pashupatinath temple, did a circumbulation (Parikrama) of Mansarovar Lake & also took a dip in it.

He performed havan with all rites& rituals & with the blessing of Lord Shiva during which he remembered all H.I.M. bhakts

Every step along the sacred route of Kailash - Manasarovar route is suffused with sacredness, emanating from every rock and blade of grass.They returned with profound contentment on having completed successfully one of the toughest journeys of faith, which delivers us salvation & with the contentment of having circumbulated the dwelling of Mahadev and Gods, only abode of God which we can visit in body and take bath in the sacred lake in which it is believed, 33 crore gods & goddesses take bath in the early morning.

If you have a STRONG WILL POWER and belief in LORD SHIVA, you will reach him despite of all diffiulties.

OM NAMAH SHIVAYA