MANSAROVAR – HOLY DIP AND HEALING EFFECTS

To Nature lovers, trekkers and adventurers, the Tibet lying Mansarovar promises treasures of Shangri-La

Lying at the height of 15,000 ft approximately, lake Mansarovar, and wider religious significance among the people of the trans-Himalayan region, both Hindus and Buddhists. Hindus in large number go on pilgrimage to the Tibetan holy site, lake Mansarovar, lying on the north of Nepalis far western Himalayan and Tibet bordering districts of Darchula and Humla in the Mahakali zone.

Pure in beauty and tranquility in surrounding and the lake at the lap of Himalaya has remained a site of holy reverence for both the Hindus from the south and Buddhists from the north.

In both the religion, Hindu and Buddhism, the sanctity of the lake and its power of spiritual haling have been held high for ages. Making a round of the lake and taking a dip init is believed to be purging one’s soul from sins and the body from sickness.

In either of the religious interpretations, be it of the Buddhist or Hindus, the site is revered as dwelling of the divine which promises eternity to earthly creatures.

Several legendary tales have been related to Lake Mansarovar which have ruled the heart and mind of Hindus and Buddhists for ages telling the miraculous power of healing.

Some Hindu belief say, taking a dip into the lake help cleanse the heart and mind by washing away mental and physical perversions. Others, say it is through the purgation of soul in holy water, one can establish association with his Holy Providence, and his that a dip in Mansarovar provides with that celestial opportunity.

Others say, by taking a dip in the lake, one can retain his youth with all vigor and vitality. Still there are others, who believe in the religious notion that by making rounds of the lake and taking dip into it, one can not only clean his soul but also secure his place in heaven after the end of mortal life.

One more school of thought related with the lake Mansarovar has dominated the Hindu mind is that taking a dip in it helps one attain moksha (free from the cycle of birth and re-birth in the worldly life).

The Tibet-situated Himalayan lake is usually visited in rainy season as in winter the snow-deep region is virtually impossible to tread. Also, because the water are replaced by the iceberg or ice floor in winter, pilgrims can hardly find even a spoonful of water to take a dip.

According to different pilgrims, who have made their way to Mansarovar from different locations i e Pakistan, Lhasa, or Darchula, Nepal’s Tibet-bordering district, it takes seven days to reach the holy site from either of the places.

Perennially snow-covered region, accept for couple of months in summer, the Mansarovar take is closely surrounded by snow peaks, which upon melting fills the lake with skin-biting chilled blue water.

To Nature lovers, trekkers adventurers, the Tibet-lying Mansarovar promises treasures of Shangri-La.

Nevertheless, we’d now see the spiritual value and religious significance which take Mansarovar holds for the religious-minded Hindus.

The lake Mansarovar, sitting at the lap of towering Himalayas, has a reference, since Vedic times, in Mansas Khanda (Manas chapter) of Skanda Puran (Age-old Hindu Holy Scriptures). As described in Skanda Puran, Sage Dattatreya once went to the Himalaya where Lord Himalaya welcomed him and asked him for the reasons for ascending the Himalayas welcomed him and asked him for the reasons for ascending the Himalaya Parbat (range). Upon so asked, Dattatreya said, ‘Oh! Giri Shrestha (highest peak), Bindhya and other Himalayan ranges are not as big and powerful as you, yet they too, are revered and worshipped, why?”. “I want you to kindly take me to all the hidden pilgrimages sites at your lap”, said Dattatreya.

Hearing that, Himalaya took him to a site called Manas which as described by him was created by Brahma (master of the Universe). In those early times, Manas was the dwelling of great sags and yogis, and at the center of sarovar (lake) there lay a golden Shiva linga. Dattatreya saw Lord Shiva, sitting cross-folded on an elevated place, in a mediating posture. Dattatreya greeted, prayed and worshipped him, As Lord Shiva opened his eyes, he found Dattatreya kneeling in front of him. Shiva asked Dattatreya if he wanted any thing or had any wishes to be fulfilled. Then Dattatreya said, “Please make the Earth inaccessible to me as I don’t want to leave this site”. He further asked Shiva, “Tell me, which among the parbats (high ranges) is the holiest site for pilgrimage, and where is your permanent dwelling?”

Then Shiva said, “Oh! Dattatreya, I live here and Bindhya parbat. Himalaya has been the holiest and the highest site of pilgrimage for the earthly creatures. There are no earthly creatures. There is no such holiest site as Himalaya on earth. Himalaya is full of Shiva linga and the holy Ganges. Hence, by coming here you have reached the state of salvation’.

Completing his pilgrimage to Mansarovar, Saint Dattatreya went to Badrika Ashrams and Kedar Mandal. There, after worshipping Lord Kedar Nath and Badri, Dattatreya went to Lord Himalaya again. Later, Dattatreya returned to Kashi (Benares).

Prince of Kashi (Benares), Dhanwantari welcomed Dattatreya, and asked him to explain about the holiest site Mansarovar. Then Dattatreya repeated what Lord Shiva had told him, “There is no holiest site as Mansarovar on earth. The pronunciation of letter ‘him’ (of Himalaya) alone, from even thousands of kilometers away, can cleanse a man of all sins. The recalling of the pilgrimage ever made can alone liberate earthly creatures. Lord Shiva dwells there. The Mansarovar has been created by Brahma (master of the universe) himself. Hence, as Mansarovar”, explained Dattatreya.

Dhanwantari then asked, how and why did Brahma created Mansarovar? Now Dattatreya said, “Brahma’s son Marichi went to Kailash parbat and mediated there to get the glimpse of Lord Shiva and Parbati, Marichi met Lord Shiva there and with the help of sages and yogis, he started worshipping Lord Shiva in tantrik ritual for 12 years in his bid to please him. But, as winter came, the water in Kailash turned into snow with no single drop of water remaining any where. AS they had to take bath prior to preceding their tantrik ritual every day, Marichi, at his wit’s end, invoked Brahma.

When Brahma appeared Marichi, together with the Sages and Yogis, implored Brahma to help them cope with the problem. It was then Brahma created Lake Mansarovar, as has been told in holy Hindu scriptures.