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Encyclopedia > Mount Kailash
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་པོཅཧེ་; 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, the source of some of the longest rivers in Asia—the Indus River, the Sutlej River, a tributary of the Ganges River, and the Brahmaputra River—and is considered as a sacred place in four religions—Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Bön faith. The mountain lies near Lake Manasarowar and Lake Rakshastal in Tibet. from inner korla route. ... A topographical summit is a point on a surface which is higher in elevation than all points immediately adjacent to it. ... The Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) (Tibetan: བོད་རང་སྐྱོང་ལྗོངས་; Wylie: Bod-rang-skyong-ljongs; Simplified Chinese: 西藏自治区; Traditional Chinese: 西藏自治區; Pinyin: XÄ«zàng ZìzhìqÅ«), is a province-level autonomous region of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). ... The Himalaya as seen from the International Space Station A mountain range is a group of mountains bordered by lowlands or separated from other mountain ranges by passes or rivers. ... In topography, prominence, also known as autonomous height, relative height, shoulder drop or prime factor (in Europe), is a concept used in the categorization of hills and mountains. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... The official Tibetan transcription is based on the Lhasa dialect and reflects the pronunciation very accurately, except that it doesnt mark tones. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... The Wylie transliteration scheme is a method for transliterating the Tibetan script using the keys on a typical English language typewriter. ... The Peoples Republic of Chinas Tibetan Pinyin (Chinese: ; pinyin: Zàngwén PÄ«nyÄ«n; Tibetan: བོད་ཡིག་གི་སྒྲ་སྦྱོར་) is the official transcription system for the Tibetan language in China. ... Simplified Chinese characters (Simplified Chinese: 简体字; Traditional Chinese: 簡體字; pinyin: jiÇŽntǐzì; also Simplified Chinese: 简化字; Traditional Chinese: 簡化字; pinyin: jiÇŽnhuàzì) are one of two standard character sets of printed contemporary Chinese written language. ... Traditional Chinese characters are one of two standard sets of printed Chinese characters. ... Pinyin is a system of romanization (phonemic notation and transcription to Roman script) for Standard Mandarin, where pin means spell and yin means sound. The most common variant of pinyin in use is called Hanyu Pinyin (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: HànyÇ” PÄ«nyÄ«n), also known as scheme... Hindi (हिन्दी or हिंदी in Devanagari; pronunciation: ), an Indo-European language spoken mainly in northern and central India, is the official language of the Union government of India [1][2]. It is part of a dialect continuum of the Indic family, bounded on the northwest and west by Punjabi, Sindhi, Urdu, and... The word source has more than one meaning: // Information Source Edit: A software program for developers in which you can edit your source code regardless of the computer language. ... River upstream of an Australian trout farm A river is a large natural waterway. ... The position of the Sindhu River in Iron Age Vedic India. ... The Sutlej is a river that flows through Northern India, with its source in Tibet. ... This article is about the river. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Hinduism (Sanskrit: , , also known as , ) is a religion that originated on the Indian subcontinent. ... Buddhism is a dharmic, non-theistic religion, a philosophy, and a life-enhancing system of psychology. ... Jaina redirects here. ... Bön has typically been described as the shamanistic religion in Tibet before the arrival of Buddhism in the 7th century C.E. With the recent exile of many Bönpo lamas to India, however, a more complex description of Bön is emerging and is now being considered by... Lake Manasarovar (also known as Lake Manasarowar or Lake Mansarovar or Mapam Yumco Lake) is a fresh-water lake in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China about 2000 km from Lhasa. ... Lake Rakshastal is a lake in Tibet lying close to the west of Lake Manasarowar and Mount Kailash. ... This article is becoming very long. ...

Contents

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. The Sanskrit language ( , ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, and one of the 22 official languages of India. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Jaina redirects here. ...


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)
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 Hindu mythology, Shiva, the God of destruction and regeneration, resides at the summit of a legendary mountain named Kailāśā. This Kailāśā is regarded in many sects of Hinduism as paradise, the ultimate destination of souls and the spiritual center of the world. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1586x2276, 462 KB)An illustration of the Hindu significance of Mount Kailash. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1586x2276, 462 KB)An illustration of the Hindu significance of Mount Kailash. ... Hinduism (Sanskrit: , , also known as , ) is a religion that originated on the Indian subcontinent. ... Shiva (English IPA: Sanskrit: शिव; Hindi: शिव; Malayalam ശിവന്‍; Tamil: சிவன் (when used to distinguish lordly status), also known as Siva and written Åšiva in the official IAST transliteration, pronounced as ) is a form of Ishvara or God in the later Vedic scriptures of Hinduism. ...


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 [citation needed] found in the Puranas, 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. Linga worship (Estate of Cynthia and Harlen Welsh) Lingam or Linga is the Sanskrit word for mark. ... Lake Manasarovar (also known as Lake Manasarowar or Lake Mansarovar or Mapam Yumco Lake) is a fresh-water lake in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China about 2000 km from Lhasa. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Purana (Sanskrit पुराण, purāṇa, meaning ancient or old) is the name of a genre (or a group of related genres) of Indian written literature (as distinct from oral literature). ... Mount Kailash, depicting the holy family of Shiva and Ganesha The axis mundi (axis of the world or world axis), in religion or mythology, is the world center and/or the connection between heaven and Earth. ... Quartz crystal In chemistry and mineralogy, a crystal is a solid in which the constituent atoms, molecules, or ions are packed in a regularly ordered, repeating pattern extending in all three spatial dimensions. ... Ruby is a red gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum (aluminium oxide) in which the color is caused mainly by chromium. ... General Name, Symbol, Number gold, Au, 79 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 6, d Appearance metallic yellow Atomic mass 196. ... A block of lapis lazuli Lapis lazuli is one of the oldest of all gems, with a history of use stretching back 7,000 years. ... League is a unit of distance long common in Europe and Latin America, although no longer an official unit in any nation. ... Buddhist mandala Mandala (Sanskrit circle, completion) is of Hindu origin and is also used in most Dharmic religions, such as Buddhism and Hinduism, to refer to various tangible objects. ... Binomial name Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. ...


The largest and most important rock-cut temple at Ellora in 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 shake Mount Kailash. Jain cave in Ellora Ellora is an ancient village 30 km (18. ... Maharashtra (Marathi: महाराष्ट्र mahārāṣṭra, literally: Great Nation; IPA: )( ) is Indias third largest state in terms of area and second largest in terms of population after Uttar Pradesh. ... A dipiction of Ravana, Hindu rakshasa King of Lanka In Hindu mythology, Ravana (Devanagari: रावण, IAST ; sometimes transliterated Raavana and as Ravan) is the principal antagonist of the Hindu epic, the Ramayana. ...


In Buddhism

The Tantric Buddhists believe that Kailash is the home of the Buddha Demchok (also known as Demchog or Chakrasamvara), who represents supreme bliss. It is said that Milarepa, champion of Tantric Buddhism, arrived in Tibet to challenge Naro-Bonchung, champion of the Bön religion of Tibet. The two magicians engaged in a terrifying sorcerous 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-Bonchung 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-Bonchung 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 and bringing Buddhism to Tibet. A mandala used in Vajrayana Buddhist practices. ... Jetsun Milarepa (Wylie: Rje-btsun Mi-la-ras-pa), 1052-1135 (approx) was one of one of Tibets most famous yogis and poets, a student of Marpa Lotsawa, and a major figure in the history of the Kagyu (Bka-brgyud) school of Tibetan Buddhism. ... Bön has typically been described as the shamanistic religion in Tibet before the arrival of Buddhism in the 7th century C.E. With the recent exile of many Bönpo lamas to India, however, a more complex description of Bön is emerging and is now being considered by... Drum carried by John Unger, Company B, 40th Regiment New York Veteran Volunteer Infantry Mozart Regiment, December 20, 1863 Several American Indian-style drums for sale at the National Museum of the American Indian. ... It has been suggested that solar radiation be merged into this article or section. ...


[Note: There appears to be some confusion in the account above between the stories of Milarepa (Great Tibetan Yogi) and Padmasambahava (also known as Guru Rinpoche, or Precious Guru by the Tibetans), who is said to have brought Tantric Buddhism to Tibet.]


In Jainism

The Jains who refer to the Kailash as Mount Ashtapada believe the founder of their faith, Rishabhadeva attained Nirvana at this place. The hand with a wheel on the palm symbolizes the Jain Vow of Ahinsa, meaning non-injury and nonviolence. ... Rishabhdev (Lord Rishab) was the first of the Jain Tirthankaras , the founder of Jainism in the present half cycle of time, in this part of the universe. ... [ (Devanagari , Pali: Nibbāna निब्बान -- Chinese: 涅槃; Pinyin: niè pán), literally extinction and/or extinguishing (ie, of the passions) is a mode of being that is free from mind-contaminants (Kilesa) such as lust, anger or craving. ...


In Bon faith

The Bön, the religion which predates Buddhism in Tibet, maintain that the entire mystical region and the Nine story Swastika Mountain is the seat of all Spiritual power. Bön has typically been described as the shamanistic religion in Tibet before the arrival of Buddhism in the 7th century C.E. With the recent exile of many Bönpo lamas to India, however, a more complex description of Bön is emerging and is now being considered by... The swastika (from Sanskrit , from su well, and asti being, thus good fortune or well-being) is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles in either left-facing () or right-facing () direction. ...


Pilgrimage

Satellite view of Mount Kailash with lakes Manasarowar (right) and Rakshastal in the foreground
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. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1152x828, 651 KB) Landsat7 Satellite view of the Mount Kailash, draped over SRTM DEM with Lake Manasarowar (right) and Lake Rakshastal (left) in the foreground. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1152x828, 651 KB) Landsat7 Satellite view of the Mount Kailash, draped over SRTM DEM with Lake Manasarowar (right) and Lake Rakshastal (left) in the foreground. ... For other uses of the word pilgrimage, see Pilgrimage (disambiguation). ... Monument to pilgrims in Burgos, Spain This article is on religious pilgrims. ... Bön has typically been described as the shamanistic religion in Tibet before the arrival of Buddhism in the 7th century C.E. With the recent exile of many Bönpo lamas to India, however, a more complex description of Bön is emerging and is now being considered by...


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. Altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness (AMS) or altitude illness is a pathological condition that is caused by acute exposure to high altitudes. ...

Location of Mt Kailash
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). Image File history File links Download high resolution version (980x615, 964 KB) Summary Location of Mt Kailash, abode of Shiva and Parvati and a place held sacred to four religions. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (980x615, 964 KB) Summary Location of Mt Kailash, abode of Shiva and Parvati and a place held sacred to four religions. ... 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ...


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).


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.
  • (Elevation) Chinese Snow Map "Kangrinboqe", published by the Lanzhou Institute of Glaciology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Mount Kailash

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Wikimedia Commons logo by Reid Beels The Wikimedia Commons (also called Commons or Wikicommons) is a repository of free content images, sound and other multimedia files. ... Kailash is a scholarly journal, first published in 1973. ... Satellite view of the Kinnaur Kailash (draped over SRTM digital elevation model The Kinnaur Kailash (locally known as Kinner Kailash) is a mountain in the Kinnaur district of the Indian state Himachal Pradesh. ...

External links

  • Going Round In Circles by Tom Carter Magazine travel report about Mount Kailash kora
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  Results from FactBites:
 
rays of the sun (481 words)
Mount Kailash (also Mount Kailas, Kailasa or Kangrinbogê Feng) is the source of some of the longest rivers in Asia: the Indus River, the Sutlej River and the Brahmaputra River.
Pilgrims of several religions all believe that circumambulating Mount Kailas on foot is a holy ritual that will bring good fortune.
Mount Kailash, Mount Kailash - Name, Mount Kailash - Religious significance, Mount Kailash - In Hinduism, Mount Kailash - In Buddhism, Mount Kailash - Pilgrimage
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Devaprayag: The ancient pilgrimage center of Devaprayag in the Himalayas is at the confluence of the rivers Alaknanda and the Bhagirathi.
Kailash has been revered as the Abode of Shiva.
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