Thursday, 23rd August 2012.
This was the final day of our Parikram. This was relatively an easier day as far as trekking was concerned. As usual we had our hot breakfast in the morning served in our rooms. Today’s trekking started on horse right from the lodge. It was short and sweet as we were coming down from about twenty thousand feet to fifteen thousand feet. The Himalayan sceneries are always fascinating. The mountain was filled with many caves. It was a pleasant day as well. By about eleven or eleven thirty in the morning we reached back at Darchen. As mentioned earlier one of the senior Yatris had to be manually carried by two of the crews as she was unable to ride the horse.
Pankaj, another Yathri, trekked most of the days on this day. Minal and couple of other Yatris also trekked without the horse for most of the time. Thus we all successfully completed the Parikram or Circumambulation with the blessing of Lord Sri Mahadeva or Kailash Natha.
At Darchen we had to part with our horses, horsemen/horsewomen and porters. There were stalls where we could get hot tea or coffee or even some local sodas. Our jeeps and drivers were ready at Darchen and waiting for us. By around one o’clock in the afternoon we were back at Manasa Sarovaram.
As previously decided we spent that night at Manasa Sarovaram. This was the day scheduled for us to take a holy dip in Manasa Sarovaram. At around two in the afternoon with bright sun the water was not very chilly. All Yathris took dips in the Holy Manasa Sarovaram. We walked almost one to two hundred feet inside the lake to take the dip. It was not deep at all. Where I took the dip was at my waist deep. Some of the Yathris had gone slightly further deep. For record sake at some areas of Manasa Sarovaram has three hundred feet deep water. So please do not be carried away by seeing the calmness of the Sarovaram. Be cautious.
It is believed that for one who performs a Parikram at Kailash and has a Holy dip in Manasa Sarovaram would wash off all the sins of not only of this birth even the sins accumulated in all his/her past lives.
My feelings and emotions the moment I had five dips in Manasa Sarovaram is indescribable. What a divine feeling. I felt not only pure physically and mentally but very contented too. My feeling was that I had nothing else to do in this life. My feeling was that I did whatever I had to do in this life or whatever I could do in this life have been accomplished with best of my ability. Life Mission successfully completed.
Thanks to Lord Kailash Natha that none of us were sick after that dip in Manasa Sarovaram in chilly cold water located at fifteen thousand feet above sea level.
I think it is time now to provide the origin and a little description of Lord Shiva or Lord Sri Maha Deva or Maheswara or Kailash Natha or Rudra Deva or Kalakala or Maha Kala and with infinite number of other names. Originally even before the creation of the universe Lord Sri Maha Vishnu created Lord Brahma Deva and assigned the responsibility of creating the universe and the species therein. Brahma Deva needed help to create the species of the universe. So initially he created four sons from his mind. They are Sanaka, Sananthana, Sanathana and Sanatkumara. They are known as the Mansa Puthras of Brahma Deva as they have been created with mind. Brahma Deva asked them to help him in creating the species of the universe. They declined the request because they wanted to devote their life for singing and praying and worshipping the glories of Lord Sri Maha Vishnu, who was the very Creator of Brahma Deva. Brahma Deva was angry at the response of his Manasa Puthras.
The story is that out of this rage of Brahma Deva from his forehead in the middle of his eyebrow created Lord Shiva. As soon as the child was born he started crying for name and place. Because of the cry Brahma Deva told him you will be known as Rudra and also told him you can stay in Mount Kailash as his abode. The word meaning of Rudra is the one who is crying or weeping (Rodathi ithi Rudra.)
Originally Rudra was assigned with the responsibility of procreation. Rudra started creating a host of Ghosts, Devils and others of equally destructive nature. Brahma knew if Rudra continues with task of procreation then the universe will be filled with these destructive beings. Therefore Brahma Deva requested him to stop procreation and go for severe austerity or thapasya.
Rudra went into severe austerity for hundreds of thousands of divya varshas. He attained and infinite power and energy like Brahma Deva and Lord Maha Vishnu. So Lord Shiva was given the responsibility of destruction and assigned as one of the Trinities or Trios. Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra are the Trinities. And their responsibilities are Creation, Maintenance and Destruction respectively.
Originally Shiva was married to Sathi Devi, the youngest daughter of Daksha Prajapathi. But as Sathi Devi and her Consort were insulted and humiliated by her own father Daksha she immolated herself in the very Sacrificial Fire pompously conducted by Daksha. This was the time Lord Shiva performed the most destructive and ferocious Thandava Nritha or Dance. And that is how Lord Shiva is known as Nataraja meaning king of dances.
The same Sathi Devi was reborn as the daughter of Mount Himalaya and Mainaka and was known as Parvathi Devi. And in this birth also Parvathi Devi was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva and accepted Lord Shiva as her husband.
Lord Sri Maha Deva and Goddess Parvathi Devi had two sons Ganapathi and Subramania. The belief is that Lord Sri Mahadeva along with his consort Parvathi Devi and two sons Ganapathy and Subramania are eternally residing in this Holy Mount Kailash along with a host of their intimate associates like Nandikesa, Veerabhadra, etc.
Also we should know that Lord Sri Maha Deva is the god of all gods of Heaven. That is why he is called as Devadeva of Devesa. Also he is beyond the time. Kala or Yema is the god of death. Yema is also one of the gods. Lord Shiva has defeated Yema. So he is deathless. See Lord Shiva is actually the Tri Murthy responsible for destruction or annihilation or death. So he is beyond death. That is why he is called as Kalakala or Maha Kala as deathless. We chant Mrithyunjaya Manthra because of this. Mrithyunjaya means which wins over Mrithyu and Mrithyu means death. That is the significance of chanting Mrithyunjaya Manthra.
These are some of the other relevant factors which could prompt you to visit Mount Kailash and have a Parikram or Circumambulation.
We stayed in a guesthouse at Manasa Sarovaram overnight. Subhash and I were up until about twelve thirty at night with an intention to see the so called mysterious light appearing above Manasa Sarovaram. Then we went inside. But three of the lady Yathris waited until three thirty in the night and they were lucky to witness the mysterious light dropping into Manasa Sarovaram and then going up like stars. Though I could not see that I do not feel anything less fortunate as I had the once in life time experience of performing the Parikram around Mount Kailash, the abode of Lord Sri Mahadeva, and to perform a holy dip in Manasa Sarovaram where goddess Parvathi Devi used to, and probably even today, perform ablution and sacred rituals daily.
OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! OM NAMA SHIVAYAH!
This was the final day of our Parikram. This was relatively an easier day as far as trekking was concerned. As usual we had our hot breakfast in the morning served in our rooms. Today’s trekking started on horse right from the lodge. It was short and sweet as we were coming down from about twenty thousand feet to fifteen thousand feet. The Himalayan sceneries are always fascinating. The mountain was filled with many caves. It was a pleasant day as well. By about eleven or eleven thirty in the morning we reached back at Darchen. As mentioned earlier one of the senior Yatris had to be manually carried by two of the crews as she was unable to ride the horse.
Pankaj, another Yathri, trekked most of the days on this day. Minal and couple of other Yatris also trekked without the horse for most of the time. Thus we all successfully completed the Parikram or Circumambulation with the blessing of Lord Sri Mahadeva or Kailash Natha.
OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! OM NAMA SHIVAYAH!
At Darchen we had to part with our horses, horsemen/horsewomen and porters. There were stalls where we could get hot tea or coffee or even some local sodas. Our jeeps and drivers were ready at Darchen and waiting for us. By around one o’clock in the afternoon we were back at Manasa Sarovaram.
As previously decided we spent that night at Manasa Sarovaram. This was the day scheduled for us to take a holy dip in Manasa Sarovaram. At around two in the afternoon with bright sun the water was not very chilly. All Yathris took dips in the Holy Manasa Sarovaram. We walked almost one to two hundred feet inside the lake to take the dip. It was not deep at all. Where I took the dip was at my waist deep. Some of the Yathris had gone slightly further deep. For record sake at some areas of Manasa Sarovaram has three hundred feet deep water. So please do not be carried away by seeing the calmness of the Sarovaram. Be cautious.
It is believed that for one who performs a Parikram at Kailash and has a Holy dip in Manasa Sarovaram would wash off all the sins of not only of this birth even the sins accumulated in all his/her past lives.
My feelings and emotions the moment I had five dips in Manasa Sarovaram is indescribable. What a divine feeling. I felt not only pure physically and mentally but very contented too. My feeling was that I had nothing else to do in this life. My feeling was that I did whatever I had to do in this life or whatever I could do in this life have been accomplished with best of my ability. Life Mission successfully completed.
Thanks to Lord Kailash Natha that none of us were sick after that dip in Manasa Sarovaram in chilly cold water located at fifteen thousand feet above sea level.
OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! OM NAMA SHIVAYAH!
I think it is time now to provide the origin and a little description of Lord Shiva or Lord Sri Maha Deva or Maheswara or Kailash Natha or Rudra Deva or Kalakala or Maha Kala and with infinite number of other names. Originally even before the creation of the universe Lord Sri Maha Vishnu created Lord Brahma Deva and assigned the responsibility of creating the universe and the species therein. Brahma Deva needed help to create the species of the universe. So initially he created four sons from his mind. They are Sanaka, Sananthana, Sanathana and Sanatkumara. They are known as the Mansa Puthras of Brahma Deva as they have been created with mind. Brahma Deva asked them to help him in creating the species of the universe. They declined the request because they wanted to devote their life for singing and praying and worshipping the glories of Lord Sri Maha Vishnu, who was the very Creator of Brahma Deva. Brahma Deva was angry at the response of his Manasa Puthras.
The story is that out of this rage of Brahma Deva from his forehead in the middle of his eyebrow created Lord Shiva. As soon as the child was born he started crying for name and place. Because of the cry Brahma Deva told him you will be known as Rudra and also told him you can stay in Mount Kailash as his abode. The word meaning of Rudra is the one who is crying or weeping (Rodathi ithi Rudra.)
Originally Rudra was assigned with the responsibility of procreation. Rudra started creating a host of Ghosts, Devils and others of equally destructive nature. Brahma knew if Rudra continues with task of procreation then the universe will be filled with these destructive beings. Therefore Brahma Deva requested him to stop procreation and go for severe austerity or thapasya.
Rudra went into severe austerity for hundreds of thousands of divya varshas. He attained and infinite power and energy like Brahma Deva and Lord Maha Vishnu. So Lord Shiva was given the responsibility of destruction and assigned as one of the Trinities or Trios. Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra are the Trinities. And their responsibilities are Creation, Maintenance and Destruction respectively.
Originally Shiva was married to Sathi Devi, the youngest daughter of Daksha Prajapathi. But as Sathi Devi and her Consort were insulted and humiliated by her own father Daksha she immolated herself in the very Sacrificial Fire pompously conducted by Daksha. This was the time Lord Shiva performed the most destructive and ferocious Thandava Nritha or Dance. And that is how Lord Shiva is known as Nataraja meaning king of dances.
The same Sathi Devi was reborn as the daughter of Mount Himalaya and Mainaka and was known as Parvathi Devi. And in this birth also Parvathi Devi was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva and accepted Lord Shiva as her husband.
Lord Sri Maha Deva and Goddess Parvathi Devi had two sons Ganapathi and Subramania. The belief is that Lord Sri Mahadeva along with his consort Parvathi Devi and two sons Ganapathy and Subramania are eternally residing in this Holy Mount Kailash along with a host of their intimate associates like Nandikesa, Veerabhadra, etc.
Also we should know that Lord Sri Maha Deva is the god of all gods of Heaven. That is why he is called as Devadeva of Devesa. Also he is beyond the time. Kala or Yema is the god of death. Yema is also one of the gods. Lord Shiva has defeated Yema. So he is deathless. See Lord Shiva is actually the Tri Murthy responsible for destruction or annihilation or death. So he is beyond death. That is why he is called as Kalakala or Maha Kala as deathless. We chant Mrithyunjaya Manthra because of this. Mrithyunjaya means which wins over Mrithyu and Mrithyu means death. That is the significance of chanting Mrithyunjaya Manthra.
These are some of the other relevant factors which could prompt you to visit Mount Kailash and have a Parikram or Circumambulation.
We stayed in a guesthouse at Manasa Sarovaram overnight. Subhash and I were up until about twelve thirty at night with an intention to see the so called mysterious light appearing above Manasa Sarovaram. Then we went inside. But three of the lady Yathris waited until three thirty in the night and they were lucky to witness the mysterious light dropping into Manasa Sarovaram and then going up like stars. Though I could not see that I do not feel anything less fortunate as I had the once in life time experience of performing the Parikram around Mount Kailash, the abode of Lord Sri Mahadeva, and to perform a holy dip in Manasa Sarovaram where goddess Parvathi Devi used to, and probably even today, perform ablution and sacred rituals daily.
OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! OM NAMA SHIVAYAH!
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| OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! Kailash View from the lodge we stayed overnight at Zuthulphuk Gompa overlooking mount Kailash (1). OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! |
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| OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! Kailash View from the lodge we stayed overnight at Zuthulphuk Gompa overlooking mount Kailash (2). OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! |
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| OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! Kailash View from the lodge we stayed overnight at Zuthulphuk Gompa overlooking mount Kailash (3). OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! |
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| OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! Kailash View from the lodge we stayed overnight at Zuthulphuk Gompa overlooking mount Kailash (4). OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! |
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| OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! Kailash View from the lodge we stayed overnight at Zuthulphuk Gompa overlooking mount Kailash (5). OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! |
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| OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! With the Blessing of Lord Shri Mahadeva we completed our Circumambulation or Parikram and back at Darchen where from we started our trekking (1). OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! |
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| OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! With the Blessing of Lord Shri Mahadeva we completed our Circumambulation or Parikram and back at Darchen where from we started our trekking (2). OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! |
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| OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! With the Blessing of Lord Shri Mahadeva we completed our Circumambulation or Parikram and back at Darchen where from we started our trekking (3). OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! |
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| OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! With the Blessing of Lord Shri Mahadeva we completed our Circumambulation or Parikram and back at Darchen where from we started our trekking. We can have a view of Indus River here (1). OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! |
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| OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! With the Blessing of Lord Shri Mahadeva we completed our Circumambulation or Parikram and back at Darchen where from we started our trekking. We can have a view of Indus River here (2). OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! |
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| OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! With the Blessing of Lord Shri Mahadeva we completed our Circumambulation or Parikram and back at Darchen where from we started our trekking. We have a better view of Indus River here (3). OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! |
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| OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! With the Blessing of Lord Shri Mahadeva we completed our Circumambulation or Parikram and back at Darchen where from we started our trekking. We can have a view of Trekking track and Kailash at far end. OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! |
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| My porter Chokru – Horse and Horseman Chottu after completing our Kailash Parikram |
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| They even have a toilet facility here but no sane one can reach there (It is so filthy) |
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| OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! Mission successfully completed. A dream came true. What an achievement and a life time experience! (1) OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! |
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| OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! Mission successfully completed. A dream came true. What an achievement and a life time experience! (2) OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! |
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| OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! Mission successfully completed. A dream came true. What an achievement and a life time experience! (3) OM NAMA SHIVAYAH! |
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